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Dressed well but in out of date clothes the tall, gray haired man steps up to the bar and orders a drink.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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