[ CW ] Write a story with the most satisfying payoff that you can muster .

`` Well, it sounds like a fun game but I'm not sure I can win.'' 
 
 `` Shall we play, then?'' 
 
 `` Sure, I'll give it a try,'' replied the girl. She stared back up at the stranger with the kind face. The game was strange -- unlike any she had encountered before. In her few years of life she had grown to love games of cards, board games, charrades, and all sorts of others. But this, like the stranger in front of her, was different. 
 
 Her feet dangled on the seat as she took her place at the table. The stranger sat across from her and gave her a smile. Something about him felt different, but it was difficult to put a finger on it. She thought, *Maybe its his accent? Or the way he's dressed? * She shook her inquiries aside and brought her focus to the game in front of her. The stranger had explained the rules, and they seemed simple enough. The stranger made his move, and she countered with what seemed to be her best option. Checks and challenges, scores and payouts followed. She was picking up the game quickly. 
 
 `` You're doing quite well,'' said the stranger as he made his move. `` It's pretty rare to see someone pick up the game so fast -- and at such a young age! Just how old are you?'' 
 
 `` I'm twelve. And you had better pay more attention to the game or else I'm going to beat you,'' she replied with a smile. Her next move took him by surprise. 
 
 She lost track of time as she danced across the board. *This is starting to get fun. I might just win. * The stranger continued to make his moves with little more than an occasional compliment and a pleasant smile. 
 
 The girl sat and stared at the board. She blinked, then took her piece and moved it into position. She hopped off her seat and exclaimed, `` Aha! I won!'' 
 
 The stranger stared at the board and realized she was right. `` Why yes, it appears you've bested me. I'm quite impressed. We'll have to play again sometime. Let's shake hands.'' 
 
 She smiled and returned the gesture. 
 
 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 
 
 `` She's got a pulse!'' 
 
 `` Oh my God.'' 
 
 Almost forty minutes had passed. The lifeguard was exhausted from the swim and the compressions. He fell back and let the sweat dry off his body. 
 
 `` You saved my daughter! You saved her!'' cried the girl's mother. She hugged the lifeguard and then embraced her daughter. 
 
 `` Sarah, Sarah. You're okay, I ca n't believe you're okay,'' the mother sobbed. 
 
 Sarah blinked her eyes and looked at the crowd surrounding her. Her chest ached and her whole body felt numb. 
 
 The lifeguard gathered his words and spoke, `` We thought we lost you. How do you feel? Are you okay?'' 
 
 `` I feel fine,'' she said. `` I won the game.''
