23 Red (reprise) (918 hits)
Category: GeneralLabels: The_Gambler
Rating: 1.75 on 30 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Spam (View user info) at 2005-09-07 08:48:54 EDT
23 Red = http://www.ubersite.com/m/67860
This is different somehow. I don't know why, because it looks just the same as it did before. But the people seem slightly more frivolous. And everybody is happy.
But then again, it's early. This will change.
"Look, Sam..."
"Please don't." I interrupt.
"Don't what?"
"Don't start this particular speech with 'Look, Sam', like it's supposed to soften the blow or something. It doesn't, it just makes the whole process longer, which isn't good for either of us."
I grab a passing employee on my way to the table, "What's the deal here?"
"What do you mean?" He asks, although I can tell he already knows exactly what I mean.
"I've been to places like this before, there are winners and there are losers. The winners laugh and the losers drink. Here, nobody seems to care. Why?"
And he shows me the sign and it all makes sense.
There's a moment, woefully brief. Something flickers across her expression and her eyes soften. But then it's gone and I can see her features tighten slightly as she shifts into the hard-edged toughness that's necessary for what is to follow.
"I saw that." I say with a rueful smile.
She smiles too, and her fragile façade crumbles under the weight of it.
"Red 23."
A cheer goes up from the crowd and one of the spectators pats my back as the Croupier slides my winnings over. Joy flashes through me for a second but it's a hollow victory. My eyes are drawn to the sign again. Confirmation that no matter what happens this night, it all means nothing.
INDUCTION DAY : ALL CHIPS TO BE RETURNED TO THE CASHIER AT CLOSE OF PLAY.
Still, the winning is enjoyable - I may as well play. It's not like I can lose anything.
"We shouldn't be doing this." She pulls away.
Another cliché. I should hate it, but when she says it it's cute. A detached part of my mind wonders why that it is.
"Why not?" Again, a question that I already know the answer to. It strikes me that at least 90% of this conversation is going to be superfluous, just going through the motions.
"You know why." She sighs,and her tone takes on a shade of pleading "Leaving this place is already the be the hardest thing I've ever done - please don't make it any more difficult."
But I will. I don't know what else to do.
And so I kiss her again.
"Black 13"
Another victory. More chips to be added to my growing pile. I enjoy the sensation, but as ever, it's short-lived. Doubt. Confusion. What's the point of playing this game if no matter how much you win, you have to give it all back at the end of the night?
I may as well enjoy it whilst I've got it.
But the clock is working against me.
She slumbers contentedly, her head on my chest. I stroke her hair and see her smile through the semi-doze. If life really is a series of moments, then I want this to be the one that defines mine. I want to stretch it out and live this peace for a blissful eternity.
But of course, I can't.
17 straight wins. The odds are incalculable. I'm a fucking millionaire for one night only. Aint that always the way?
"Last spin Ladies and gentlemen. Please place your bets for the last spin of the wheel"
"I have to leave."
"I know"
That's all I can say. It's all I need to I guess.
"Chips please sir"
You can't take them. They're mine. I've earnt them. I've lost too much on this game to just give it all up when I finally win something.
But I have to.
So she walks out the door anyway.
And I'm as poor as when I started.
User Reviews
Submitted by Linus (user info) at 2008-08-17 13:51:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 Spam. I hope this works--goddamn thing took me an hour to write.
Submitted by missedthepoint (user info) at 2005-11-21 20:42:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Not enough + on the keyboard sam
If you don't attempt to get this series published in some form or another
then you are letting yourself down.
Capish? (sp?)
This has inspired me to get off my ass and pick up a pen again.
Thanks mate.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-21 09:44:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
00 - Double zero: http://www.ubersite.com/m/79568
Submitted by mrwolf (user info) at 2005-10-04 12:37:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Beautiful work Spam, I'm back for a little while though who knows how long before this priviledge is taken away from me. The director just clocked me on it and didn't seem impressed.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-09-16 07:15:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-09-16 04:46:29 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by DudeThatsBOSH (user info) at 2005-09-13 17:36:05 (#)
Ranking: -2
I CHANGE MY MIND, THIS IS BOSH. """
imbecile.
---
indeed.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-09-16 04:46:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by DudeThatsBOSH (user info) at 2005-09-13 17:36:05 (#)
Ranking: -2
I CHANGE MY MIND, THIS IS BOSH. """
imbecile.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-09-14 03:07:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by DudeThatsBOSH (user info) at 2005-09-13 17:36:05 (#)
Ranking: -2
I CHANGE MY MIND, THIS IS BOSH.
--
*sigh*
Submitted by DudeThatsBOSH (user info) at 2005-09-13 17:36:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I CHANGE MY MIND, THIS IS BOSH.
Submitted by badassmofo (user info) at 2005-09-08 00:25:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
so far so good. and kudos for picking up something you've left sit.
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2005-09-07 22:06:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
to quote gary busey:
Son
Of a
Bitch,
Everything's
Real
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2005-09-07 22:05:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
you're lucky i'm not getting wasted all the time like i used to, otherwise i really wouldn't care.
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2005-09-07 22:03:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2005-09-07 22:03:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
nice detailing, felt like a small movie reel going inside my head with the main character narrating the events. this needs more reviews, i'm sick of bullshit "pretty pictures" getting all of them.
Submitted by sideshow (user info) at 2005-09-07 17:15:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Nice
Submitted by mles76 (user info) at 2005-09-07 14:15:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow this is good. Keep it up.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-09-07 13:37:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I've known the pain of not being reviewed too. Oh well, skate it off bitch.
good post though
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-09-07 12:55:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2005-09-07 12:51:56 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by DudeThatsBOSH (user info) at 2005-09-07 12:32:26 (#)
Ranking: 1
You deserve a -2 simply for calling me a failure on my first post. Don't be such a dick all the time, it looks desparate from the other end because it looks like your trying to win the respect of your uber peers, instead of actually rating the post.
Whatever though, this was good.
----
uber karma
--
...or just some idiot that cant handle that fact that if his cock were an inch longer it would be classed as in-growing.
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2005-09-07 12:51:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by DudeThatsBOSH (user info) at 2005-09-07 12:32:26 (#)
Ranking: 1
You deserve a -2 simply for calling me a failure on my first post. Don't be such a dick all the time, it looks desparate from the other end because it looks like your trying to win the respect of your uber peers, instead of actually rating the post.
Whatever though, this was good.
----
uber karma
Submitted by DudeThatsBOSH (user info) at 2005-09-07 12:32:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
You deserve a -2 simply for calling me a failure on my first post. Don't be such a dick all the time, it looks desparate from the other end because it looks like your trying to win the respect of your uber peers, instead of actually rating the post.
Whatever though, this was good.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-09-07 12:26:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
yes, quite.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-09-07 12:19:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I think that you may be right Derv. The only thing we write that's properly acknowledged are reviews and even then I don't think people realise how difficult it is for literary genii like us to ignore our copius talent and dumb them down so that they are readable to the filthy masses.
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2005-09-07 11:57:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fret not Spam.
Happens to me all the time.
It's because we're operating on a higher plane. Or something.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-09-07 10:46:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I can't belive the only people to have reviewed this are my Uber-chums.
I suck at life.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-09-07 10:11:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
(slight return)
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2005-09-07 09:22:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Bwahahahahahhahahaha. I laughed like a loon.
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-09-07 09:22:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I have never been into a casino or anything of that nature, but I almost felt like I was in one, the way that...
You know what? It's early, I'm incoherent, and I'm not going to inflict a meaningless ramble on anyone. So feel spared, I guess.
Submitted by Soley_Trinity (user info) at 2005-09-07 09:06:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"She slumbers contentedly, her head on my chest. I stroke her hair and see her smile through the semi-doze. If life really is a series of moments, then I want this to be the one that defines mine. I want to stretch it out and live this peace for a blissful eternity."
Reading this part made the flutter sensation from my stomach ascend to my chest.
No! it's not hairy.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-09-07 08:58:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Thank you Jamie.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-09-07 08:53:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
these two posts are quite simply fabulous.
You could have easily sold those for cash money.
No shit.
I'm not often impressed on Uber but damn wigga, you got skillllz.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-09-07 08:49:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
***cries millionaire emo tears***