Come-come.

Antes de ler, jogue aqui por pelo menos cinco minutos.

Pensei nisso dias destes, enquanto rememorava o evento que consumiu horas de internet de alguns usuários do Google que se divertiram jogando o clássico Pac-Man. Em 22 de maio deste mesmo ano, a gigante da internet transformou sua logomarca em uma versão jogável da bolinha amarela. Eu mesmo perdi alguns minutos, entretido em comer as bolinhas menores e os fantasmas, vez em quando.

Não lembro qual foi o ponto exato de convergência entre a ideia e o jogo, mas foi que relacionei a sistemática, a “história” em que o game transcorre e adquire sentido: comer todas as bolinhas do cenário sem que os fantasmas te alcancem, ao nosso cotidiano, à nossa vida em contraste às forças opressoras que nos fazem viver da forma que vivemos.

Como vivemos em constante busca de capital, de dinheiro para poderar assegurar a sobrevivência primeira - comida - a analogia parte do príncipio que o personagem principal, Pac-Man, vulgo Come-come, age como ser-humano comum que vive dentro de um esquema social capitalista. A sua razão primeira de viver é comer para continuar vivo e, para isso, precisa do dinheiro que é simbolizado pelas bolinhas amarelas, cor que remete ao ouro. A nossa vida e as três do Come-come giram em torno de conseguir tanto dinheiro quanto estiver disponível no cenário, para o qual ainda não achei uma referência real que cobre cem por cento do significado que ele tem no jogo. Até aí, é até muito fácil. Porém há os quatro fantasmas que, gradativamente, começam a perseguí-lo através do labirinto.

Nesse momento, a vida do personagem se torna uma fuga e uma busca, que fica cada vez mais difícil. Para passar a outro cenário, é necessário comer todas as pequenas bolinhas que estão cada vez mais escassas. Essa restrição pode ser encarada como o nosso código moral, nosso código de leis, que proíbe algumas formas de se adquirir dinheiro-comida (não podemos roubar dos outros, por exemplo) e deixam poucas maneiras de consegui-lo. A mais comum, pelo trabalho.

Ficou em aberto a questão dos fantasmas, os elementos opressores e perseguidores do cidadão Come-come. Imediatamente, assumi que eles seriam o governo, a estrutura governamental. Vivendo no Brasil, tendo que trabalhar 148 dias do ano para pagar os impostos, sinto muitas vezes que sou o Pac-Man, correndo atrás de dinheiro e mais dinheiro para compensar aquele que deixo nas mãos do Estado.

Parece que a vida tem-se resumido a isso: uma correira sem fim atrás de um instrumento de valor abstrato (mas que compra coisas concretas), sem tempo para parar para respirar, para pensar no que está acontecendo e discutir se isso é certo ou errado, bom ou ruim, decente ou indecente. Assim, vou correndo atrás das minhas bolinhas por aqui, você por aí. Apenas tome cuidado: ao contrário do Come-come, nós só temos uma vida.

P.s: Existem ainda as grandes bolas amarelas que dão poder ao Pac-man para poder se livrar dos fantasmas. Vejo como bom exemplo o sujeito que ganha uma bolada na loteria. O estado ainda tira dele uma parte, mas isso não passa de cócegas na fortuna que o deixa viver tranquilamente.

Quero comentários.

Just Trying VII.

The old white-bearded started dealing the cards. It’s backs were all dark, like no light could make it reflect, like the cards had an endless wormhole that could absorb me. I watched what I’ve got: a nine diamonds and Jack spades – a poor hand. As the man started dealing, the next player who has to bet would be me. I stared him, waiting for instructions.

- Oh, right. I forgot it… humans forget things sometimes, eh? he looked the other one, who had not said a thing that whole time. He was a very serious middle-aged man. Black short hair and black long coat, like an Italian who belongs to mafia. He didn’t make a sound, just looked his brother, then put an eye on me and sent a disdainful smile. Then took his cards and looked without any care, while the white beard was saying:

- The minimum bet is 10, and it will double when I had the button, when I deal again. One more thing: you cannot refuse a game; you’ll have to play every hand.

My chin fell down. He must have seen that in my eyes. He said that I’d have to play every hand, even the worst ones. I was not allowed to fold. So I would play with that ridiculous jack and nine. I should do that for my life. So did I.

I lost the first hand, and then the second. Who had won was the black coat. Finally I won some hands, than the white beard did. The game was quite tied, and went like that for many turns. The bets were 160, when I got that great hand: two kings.

I was the dealer, so the black coat post his small blind and the white beard post the big blind. It was my turn. I hesitate: should I bluff, or should I assume my strong hand and play as the manuals tell, betting hard? Playing tough may induce the other players to flee, folding their hands, however bluff could give me low pots. Then I realized the white beard has said that no one could fold. I pulled all my chips into the pot, performing an all-in. I was winning or if their stacks are lower than mine. They’ve had no choice and had to cover my bet. All chips were in the center of the table, my life being played upon a green disdainful carpet.

The others and I put our cards faced up on the table. I quickly looked the others’ cards. I astonished seeing the white beard’s pair of aces. If the scene would not change as I show the flop, I was going to loose the game. And the life.

I sat back on the chair, worried. Then I looked black coat’s hand: a three and a six spades. He had nothing, but could make a flush, which will beat my pair of kings, too. My hands were shaking while I was dealing the three cards, the flop. It showed some interesting scenario. It was an ace and a king, both spades, and a not important eight hearts. That meant the white beard was still winning, with three aces. I came on second, with three kings, but we still had two cards to be dealt, the turn and the river, and black coat had four of spades – with one more spade card, he got a flush, which beats both mine and white beard’s hand.

My heart was going to explode while I dealt the river. It was a non important two diamonds. Then, the last one came. I closed my eyes and put it down.

It took some seconds until I looked to the card. When I did, it showed a king. I have made a poker, I had won! I shouted loud an “yeah!” and then I perceived no one were around me. The table, the green carpet and the yellow light were still there, but the brothers, white beard and black coat were not. My excitement was turned on confusion, but it was still happiness for the victory. I had won and then I would live!

I got out through the same door I came in. It was evening, but the sun was still shining. I did not know how much time has passed and it did not matter. Looking to the floor under my feet, I saw a great red stain and I remembered the wine. Someone had cleaned it. Then I remembered home, and the work I was doing before going out to buy beer. I walked to the freezer and picked up the most expensive pack. I was happy and spender. I just wanted to get out of there and live. I pay to the old man in the cashier, who said: “Oh, I did not see you coming in…” and I replied, with smiles: “Sorry, I am a little quiet…”

He turned: “well… there are strange thinks going on around here…” I realized he was going to start a story, and I had no time for that. I smiled and said a good-bye. Finally, I got out. I opened a can and drank the refreshing liquid, feeling the warm of the sun touching me on the face. “It’s done, now” I thought, “it is time to live!”

Suddenly, I perceived that I did not even have a life. I had not any family, nor love. My friends were all away. My job was draining my energy every single day and I had no other pleasure rather than drinking. I had won that game, but that win was a loss, after all.

The end.