New Year’s Penance
On
a New Year’s Eve he walks into the casino at sunset.
Dressed
well but in out of date clothes the tall, gray haired man steps up to
the bar and orders a drink.
After
getting his order and while sipping on ridiculously expensive scotch
walks around the parties in the casino while sipping with great
relish the magic contents of his crystal glass.
As
he finishes his drink he walks up to a black-jack table and lays
three chips on three spots to place his first bets.
He
wins more than loses and starts to gather a healthy stack of chips.
Then,
tips the dealer and the cocktail waitress generously finishes his
drink and collecting his winnings
and
walks back to the bar to order another.
And
now, with a bag full of chips in one hand and the expensive scotch in
the other he tours amonst the partying revelers around the tables,
finishes it , and then steps up to a poker table.
He
again, wins more than losses.
As
the countdown riotously is announced at midnight everyone breaks into
song with auld lang syne he stops and takes in the scene and with a
smile tips his glass to the adjoining guests for awhile and then
returns to the tables.
He
still wins more than loses ’til dawn.
It
was a long night and his chips have stacked up and there was a buzz
about “The old guy” who’s been having a good run at the tables.
The
casino owner having walked over to see what was happening suddenly
stops and turns ashen at the sight of the man.
”Hello
old friend” he greets the casino owner.
“Been
awhile” he continues.
“Where
have you been?” The casino owner was not used to being so confused.
“I
thought you died” in his surprize his voice had become very loud.
“Doing
penance” replied the man.
“What?”says
the casino owner visibly shaken.
Putting
a hand full of chips into a pocket and pulling an envelope out of his
jacket he signs the receipt for the check and places the check into
the envelope.
The
man walks over to the desk with a stunned casino owner following and
generously tips the clerk with instructions to deliver the envelope
to the address.
“What
are you doing?” In a near panic the casino owner watched the
courier take the envelope.
“The
winnings are going to some charities” Smiles the man.
“But,
you never leave anything on the table” The casino owner was well
out of his comfort zone.
“Penance?”
Smiling
the man walks out of the casino, then, disappears.
A.
Mendoza, 12- 2017
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