Volume 10 - Issue 1, February 15, 2008 - Lake Chapala Review

February 2008 Lake Chapala Review
Page 51
The Last Chip
by Carol J. Ferrell Seven!!
Hell found me the night I walked into the Golden Spike.
Entering a sea of stale cigarette smoke, I walked across the
floor determined not to stop until I reached the rest room,
and listened to the ringing of the slots as they promised to
pay, and pay big. Watching the suckers as they poured their
last coins in, I saw desperation as it crept across their faces.
And then it was over. They were finished for the night – or
forever. I hurried past these poor, pathetic bastards, swearing
I would not become one of them.
As I pushed my way through the crowd I felt a hand on
my arm. I turned and looked into the green eyes of a woman
with blond hair and the biggest tits I’d ever seen.
“Can I buy you a drink, handsome?” her big red lips said.
As we moved across the room, she continued talking and
at the same time steered me to the craps table. Smiling she
pressed her body against mine.
“Drink?” she asked. I couldn’t answer, couldn’t think. The
noise seemed to drown out any thoughts I might have had.
The excitement started in my feet and worked its way up
my legs, into my groin; my chest felt as though it was about
to explode. My body felt alive for the first time in days. My
sweaty hands started to tremble and I knew this was it. I
cashed in my last crumpled hundred dollar bill and took my
place at the table
The blond was back with a drink.. I placed my bet. The
trembling stopped as soon as I took the dice.
“Come on seven!” And seven it was. She squealed and
kissed my cheek. I was feeling lucky and placed again, this
time doubling my bet.
“Snake eyes!” I cried, as the dice bounced down the green
felt, and hit the bumper – snake eyes it was. I was hot, in
fact I was on fire; there would be no stopping me. The night
was mine, I would make it all back and my worries would be
over.
The blond stood at my side, leaving only to replenish my
drink. Watching my pile grow was a turn-on to end all turnons.
I removed one chip and put it in my pocket. My pot was
up to 150 grand and growing, the crowd, five deep around
my table, cheered me on. I could do no wrong. “Let it ride,”
was all I said and called out my lucky number.
Then as quickly as she came, Lady Luck vanished taking
my winnings, along with my hope. The crowd thinned and
the blond was nowhere in sight. Remembering the chip in
my pocket, I placed my bet. “Seven!” I screamed. The house
won with a pair of two’s. The blond was long gone, the crowd
disappeared and I was left standing alone in my puddle of
piss. The dealer pointed me towards the rest room. As I
turned I bumped into the janitor with his mop and bucket.
Hearing laughter as I made my way across the room, I kept
my head down, wanting to be invisible. The wet stain on
the front of my trousers would not yield to the daubing of
the paper restroom towel. I turned and looked in the mirror,
seeing a long drawn face and vacant eyes, and wondered,
Who is this poor pathetic bastard staring back at me?
I made my way to the front of the casino and hurried out
into the blistering sun. Only noon and already the hot air was
thick with humidity, and I could barely catch my breath. The
heat came up from the pavement, making it almost impossible
to move my legs. I looked around the almost deserted street
trying to decide which way to go, then realized it made
absolutely no difference. I had nowhere to go. I moved closer
to the building, hoping for some relief, but the small amount
of shade did little good. I made my way to the corner and
turned off the main drag.
Half way down the block was the Spike’s loading dock.
I found some empty space under the ramp and crawled in
backwards on all fours. I hit the back wall, pushed my back
up and tucked my knees in close to my chest. Christ it was hot,
hotter than hell. I must have passed out and was awakened
by something scratching my face I tried to open my eyes, but
the scratching continued, making it almost impossible, The
wetness on my cheeks ran down my neck and a strong stench
burnt my nostrils. Then I heard the screeching noise and
realized it was rats. My legs were numb from being bent for
so long. Flailing my arms to drive away the rats, I managed
to roll on my stomach and drag myself out.
Standing outside my hell hole, I remembered a place where
I would be free from the chains that bound me. I hurried out to
the street to get my bearings and walked the next few blocks
as quickly as I could. Not only was my head pounding, but the
stench of the rat piss on my upper body and my own urine
soaked trousers, caused my stomach to convulse. I scurried
along and then there she was, the beautiful American River.
Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I walked slowly on
the river bank, then sat and waited for everyone to leave,
knowing that soon I would be out of the bowels of this hell,
never to return….