Kester’s Tangle-Toss Dare — Every day after syrup steam hissed through the Licorice Ropewalk, Kester rolled candy coins along the floor gutters and kept both feet on the safe, sticky tiles. Read the full story →
Every day after syrup steam hissed through the Licorice Ropewalk, Kester rolled candy coins along the floor gutters and kept both feet on the safe, sticky tiles. He wanted to invent a game brave enough for the tall braiding ropes, so he drew a chalk line, sniffed the warm cherry licorice, and named it Tangle-Toss. “One coin through the moving loop,” he whispered, “then I’m officially not a floor-gutter champion.”
Until one day, his first coin went ping off a vanilla band and plunked into the center twist. Because of that, the licorice ropes grabbed it like a chewy fist. Because of THAT, every loose coin nearby began hopping and clacking after it, and the braid tightened with a rubbery groan. Kester’s knees fizzed. The only way to stop the mess was to step onto the lowest rope, reach between the twisting strands, and flick the trapped coin backward.
He climbed one loop. Then another. The licorice tugged at his shoes and smelled like berries in a rainstorm, but Kester snapped his finger and sent the coin spinning free. The whole hall loosened with a happy thwup! Next time you spot the coins beside those giant ropes, see if one still looks like it just escaped Tangle-Toss.
