Grocery Bingo. It happens once a semester and it's one of your favorite events, if you're being honest. But this is no casual game, this is a serious competition with prizes around $100 or more on the line.
The stages of this competitive event are as follows:
1. The "Let's Get Started" Stage
You already got your free food before the game (one of the main reasons you go to the event), have your bingo card and marker, and you've found your seat. You are emotionally prepared and have begun telling yourself that this will be the time you win. Now you're just ready for the game to start so you can get closer to winning.
2. The "Please Start Calling Out the Numbers" Stage
You have heard the rules before and you know that the first round is traditional bingo. So let's just start calling the numbers.
3. The "I Don't Even Have One on the Board" Stage
You sneak a glance at the cards to your left and right and realize that you are the only one who doesn't have any spaces filled in (because the free space doesn't count). Your positivity is slowly dwindling.
4. The "I Don't Really Want That Prize, Anyways" Stage
You look around and people start standing up and you know that the time is dawning. You won't win this round, but hey, you don't even really want that prize.
5. The "I'll Get It This Round" Stage
One of the prizes you really want is coming up and you tell yourself that now you are in it to win it. As if determination has something to do with it...
6. The "Please Sit Down" Stage
Now that people only have one space left and you have four, you are becoming extremely competitive.
7. The "I Only Clap For You If I Have To" Stage
Let's be honest, you're kind of a sore loser when that person got the eno or the giftcard that you really wanted. So when everyone around you starts clapping for them you don't want them to know that you're salty, so you clap just a little bit, too (but it hurts).
8. The "My Time Is Coming" Stage
You're in one of the final rounds and now you think it is finally your time to win that awesome prize. You imagine yourself walking down to the stage with a smile in your face and a winning bingo card in your hand. You think you picked the perfect card for this round and you are wanting them to call out the numbers faster because you have your eye on the prize (literally).
9. The "I Don't Have This" Stage
It's the final round and it's black out. You only have five spaces filled in and other people have already started standing up. You realize that this is it; you don't stand a chance. And yet, you still keep playing.
10. The "Going Home Empty-Handed (Again)" Stage
The grand prize was just handed out. You put your card in the trash can on the way out and you realize that it happened again: going home empty-handed. You walk out the door with a little bit of sadness wondering where the money for those prizes came from and how you won't have snacks in your room for a semester, free gas for a few weeks, or that awesome polaroid camera in your dorm.
Grocery Bingo is over. You didn't win anything, and yet, it's still one of your favorite events on campus and you are looking forward to next semester's game.
