A short story by Joe Eulo
I flew to Las Vegas solo, no luggage, no carry on, just the cash in my pocket and the shirt on my back. I sat in the window seat, isle 10; took me ten minutes to convince the little old lady sitting there that she was in my spot. She stared at me as if I were a crazed vagabond, who could blame her, I am unshaven, disheveled and look as if, I belonged in a cardboard on top of a steam grate. The flight attendant sauntered over, confirmed my story, and told the old bag to move. She did, reluctantly, cursing me under her breath. Damn me!
I sold everything I owned to gamble it in a poker game, the poker game: the world series of poker. My chances of winning at poker were better than black jack, and much faster than playing the slots. It was my last ditch effort to redeem myself to my friends, my family, and the two big Italian guys with the broken noses. I owed them too much money and this was my only way to get them off my back and reclaim any crumb of dignity that I had left. Damn my gambling habit!
I prayed the poker gods would grant me good cards and enough luck and wisdom to play them. I had been practicing my poker face the moment sin city invaded my thoughts, but is hard to hide a smile when you have good cards and a scowl when you do not. It is difficult, and I am emotional. Damn me!
As I looked out the window over the wing of the plane, I could see the lights of the strip, the green glow from the MGM grand, and the pulsating light shooting up from the Luxor. This wasn’t the first time I’ve been to Vegas and I with any luck not my last. I don’t know if it was the stale peanuts or the thoughts of the torture the gentlemen with the broken noses would inflicted on me if I lost, that gave me so much heartburn, so I starting popping Tums in my mouth like ticktacks. Damn me!
The butterflies in my stomach made me vomit as we landed. Bits of peanuts and strawberry Tums stained the dress of the little old lady that sat next to me “Sorry” I said as I attempted to wipe off the vomit from her dress, “get your hands off of me, you freaken asshole!” she howled. Great, I have been in Vegas for less than five minutes and I am already making great friends! Damn me!