Sammy, a serial enthusiast of failed ambitions, lounges on the couch in mismatched pajamas, staring mournfully at a rejected manuscript. The hum of the microwave reheating yesterday’s coffee fills the silence. "Well, at least the microwave hasn't given up on me yet," he mutters, tossing his manuscript into the growing pile of 'almosts'.

Jessie, a relentless optimist, shakes off her umbrella and surveys the scene with raised eyebrows. She plops down beside Sammy, nudging him with a bag of donuts. "Sammy, you know what Einstein said? Failure is success in progress. Also, donuts are circles—no beginning, no end. Like your potential," "I feel more like a donut hole," Sammy replies, glancing at the empty box.

Sammy hesitantly signs up for the contest, his hands trembling as he picks out a microphone. Jessie, armed with pom-poms and a truly embarrassing t-shirt bearing Sammy’s face, stands in the front row. "Sammy, if you bomb, at least you’ll be spectacular. And remember, everyone loves a comeback," Sammy nods, heart pounding like the bass from the Zumba class next door.

A hush falls. Sammy’s cheeks rival the neon mats in redness. Jessie leaps up, waving her pom-poms wildly. "Give him a chance! He’s much funnier when he’s not terrified!" The crowd chuckles, the tension cracked by Jessie’s antics.

Instead of wallowing, Sammy studies his flop, laughing at his own blunders and jotting down ideas about failed microwave meals and donut-shaped self-esteem. Inspiration hits as he realizes his failures are actually hilarious stories. "Maybe flopping is my superpower. Besides, who else can say they’ve set off a popcorn machine with a punchline?" Jessie beams, tossing him a donut.

His new routine, built from the rubble of past failures, slays the crowd. Even the bartender wipes away tears of laughter. Jessie leads a standing ovation, pom-poms waving in triumph. "Turns out, the best punchlines come from the punch-outs," Sammy grins, soaking in the applause.

Sammy and Jessie toast with mugs of reheated coffee, trading stories of their most spectacular flops. "Maybe the secret isn't avoiding failure, but collecting enough of it to build something great," "And to keep a friend with pom-poms nearby," Jessie adds, grinning.