Original © 2006

Revised © 2007

BY:  GERRY YOUNG

[To Drew in Yorkshire, England, my LOVE for his continued inspiration, encouragement, ceaseless instructions over my hardheadedness, and his determination to help me make this the  best that I think it can be, even though I may not have followed all his suggestions to the letter.]

CHAPTER  NINE

They used the Lexus.  Since Gerry knew where the casino was, and was more familiar with driving around the Palm Springs area, he became the designated driver.  He and Ted in the front, with Beckie and Sheilagh in the back.  Gerry loved playing tour guide, and so, mainly for Sheilagh’s benefit, he pointed out some of the affluent country clubs along the way.  He figured that Ted and Beckie had already become slightly familiar with some of the landmarks.

“Over there, he pointed to his left, is Tamarisk Country Club where Frank Sinatra lives,” he continued.  “And there on our right is Thunderbird Country Club, home of Ginger Rogers.” 

Soon afterward, they were crossing the intersection of Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra Drives.  “And here on our left,” he continued, “is the huge Annenberg Estate, western home of America’s Former Ambassador to Great Britain, and the owner of “TV Guide;”  the estate has been the ‘playground’ home of many of the Presidents since Eisenhower.”

“Gerry, if I may ask, are you on first name basis with any of the celebrities who live in the area?”

He chuckled a little and explained.  “Well, Beckie, there are so many of the rich and famous and so many celebs living here, the newspapers refer to them by their familiar names.  Most people around here pick up on it and talk about them as if they were old friends.”

Ted entered the conversation and asked, “You ever meet any of the real BIG celebrities?”

“Yeah.  I talked with Liberace in one of the movie theaters down town one evening.  It was during intermission between a double feature.  He was very nice, AND he was by himself.”

Ted looked at him and raised an eyebrow but made no further comment.  Gerry chuckled to himself.

“Any others?” asked Beckie.

“Huh?”

“Any other celebrities?  Ever meet any others?”

“Oh, I’ve worked for a few, but they wanted me to sign an agreement NOT to say WHO.  I DID get to hold an Oscar in my hands, though!  And one night … ohhh … right after I first moved here … about five years ago … I remember, I was in a little neighborhood Mexican restaurant … Casa Camargo … yeah, that was it … in Palm Springs … with some friends, and I’d had quite a few Margaritas, and was feeling very little pain.”  They laughed.  So did Gerry.

“And after paying the damages, I was walking toward the door, when some guy opened it for some lady to come inside.  I don’t know why I didn’t wait for them to enter.  But, here was this gorgeous hunk of a guy …” (Gerry noticed in the rearview mirror that Beckie and Sheilagh quickly looked at each other) “… holding the door open – for ME, I thought – so I just walked through.  I stepped up to the man, nodded and said, ‘Thank you, hic, Sir,’ then stepped over to the lady, nodded again, and said, ‘Thank hic you, Ma’am,’ and continued on, swaggering my way past them.  She said, very blandly, ‘You’re welcome,’ but the hunk didn’t say anything.  A couple of minutes later, my friends ran up to me, grabbed me and asked things like, ‘You know who that was?’ and ‘You know who held the door for you?’  Dum dum me!  Well … guess who I’d been too damn drunk to recognize?”

“Who?  Who?  Who”  They sounded like a bunch of old hooty-owls.

“Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood, that’s who!”

“Aw, shit!” said Ted.

“A few minutes later,” Gerry continued his tale, “we had walked to my place … it was right around the corner … even though I was dead drunk.  I think somebody had to carry me piggy-back part of the way;  I couldn’t find my key.  Friends’ hands were roaming through all my pockets – heeheehee – somebody finally found it … the key, that is … opened the door, took me to my bedroom, and I collapsed and totally passed-out.”

All three of Gerry’s passengers were laughing hysterically.  “Damn!” Ted laughed, “I bet you never lived that down.”

“Yeah, you’re right-on, there.”  Gerry put his hand on top of Ted’s, on top of the seat between them.  Ted started to jerk it away, but ended up leaving it there.

Shortly afterwards, they could see the lights of the casino, stuck out in the middle of the desert by itself with nothing around but parking lots and manicured desert landscaping.  Gerry drove into the parking structure, and as they all entered the casino, they were hit with the strong aroma of cigarette smoke.  The girls lifted their hands to cover their noses.  Beckie coughed that fake cough that so many ‘reformed’ smokers use to intimidate those who still smoke.  Several times she coughed.

Gerry pointed out the direction of the buffet restaurant and let the girls lead the way.  The din of the usual casino noises – bells ringing, whistles blowing, people screaming after hitting little jackpots – made it difficult to hear each other.  Gerry looked at Ted as Ted looked at him, and they both inhaled the smoke.

Then Ted said something Gerry couldn’t make out, so he put his arm around Ted’s shoulder, pulled him tight against his side, put his mouth close to Ted’s ear and asked, “What’id ya say?”

Ted turned his head to face him, and for a split second, their lips touched.  Their eyes got big, and then they broke out in huge grins, and Ted answered, “I said, ‘I’d love to have a cigarette’.”

“I didn’t know you smoked?”

“Yeah, but not very much.  I didn’t see you smoking yesterday, sooooo, I didn’t either.”

“Just wish I’d known,” Gerry said, then reached ahead to get the girls’ attention and said, “Over there is the restaurant.  You wanna go in now?”

Sheilagh started looking around and said, “I think I need to freshen up a bit.  How about you, Baby?” she asked Beckie.  Ted and Gerry looked at each other, then at Sheilagh, then back to each other.  Beckie was nodding, ‘Yes,’ back to Sheilagh.

“Powder Room’s down THAT way,” Gerry pointed to the right, “and Men’s Room is down this way,” he pointed to the left.  “Ted?”

“Yeah, okay.  Need to wash my hands anyway.”

Then Gerry said to the girls, “We’ll meet back here in … say … five … ten minutes?  Okay?  That enough time for you gals to … uhhh … do whatever it is you do in powder rooms?”

“Make it … fifteen, just to be safe, okay, Teddy?” chided Beckie, as she took Sheilagh’s hand and started toward the Ladies’ Room.

Ted stared after her, but Gerry put his hand in the middle of Ted’s back, and turned him so they could head to the Head.  “Everything okay, Babe?” Gerry asked as they walked.

“I just hate it when she calls me … TEDDY!”

“It’s none of my business, but as a prospective landlord, and as a friend, do I detect problems at home?”

“No, not really.  It’s just … I get so damned irritated with her at times.”

They entered the Men’s Room.  Gerry didn’t see anyone at the wash basins, and no one was at the urinals.  He bent down and looked under the partitions of the stalls – didn’t see any legs.  He took Ted’s hand and literally pulled him toward the last urinal.  He threw his arms around Ted and frenched him so deeply, their teeth clicked against each other’s.

Ted tried to back away, but Gerry held him tighter.  Then … THEN! … they heard someone clear his throat.  Ted and Gerry froze. 

Gerry looked over his shoulder and saw a young muscle-bound Adonis who was wearing brown leather motorcycle boots;  tight, tight, TIGHT brown leather pants showing a very sizable basket;  a short tie-dyed wife-beater which showed a gold ring pierced through his belly-button, rings on every finger, braided leather bands tied around both biceps, the whitest-blond hair he’d ever seen on a man, tied in a ponytail that reached his ass, and a tiny gold ring pierced through each eyebrow.  The young guy winked at Gerry, grinned, and said, “Smile … you’re on candid camera!” and pointed to a security camera up in one corner of the room.

Ted and Gerry quickly released each other and together said, “Awww, shit!”  Blood drained from both their faces.

“Just shittin’ ya, guys,” the stranger said. Laughing, while unzipping, reaching in (‘way down!) and stepping up to the farthest urinal from them.  Neither of them got to see the real, uncovered thing!  Shit!  From the bulge, it must have been a monster.

“They don’t use those things,” he continued.  “It’s illegal to video in dressing rooms and restrooms.  Those fake cameras in restrooms are just to make all the touristy people feel guilty for whatever reasons.”

While he was talking, Ted and Gerry both unzipped and took a leak … in separate urinals!  After zipping back up, Gerry walked past the stranger, slapped him on the butt and said, “Thanks, guy.”

Ted, who was right behind Gerry, slapped his butt and said, “Hey!  Stop it!  That hand belongs to ME, now!”  The stranger snickered.

“SIR, YES SIR, MASTER, SIR!” Gerry said as he sharply did an about-face, stomped his feet into position, jerked to attention, and saluted Ted.  “WILL THERE BE ANYTHING ELSE, SIR?

“Wash your hands, SLAVE!”

“SIR, YES SIR!”

“And then … then you can lick my fingers clean for me.”

“oooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo,” they heard the stranger, still at ‘his’ urinal, mimicking Mae West, and looking at them.

Ted and Gerry turned toward him, saw him shaking his shoulders and hips as if a shiver had just gone through them, and they cracked-up, laughing.  The stranger started ‘fanning’ himself with his flippant little hand.

Ted was drying his hands and Gerry began washing his own, and they were both laughing themselves silly.  A couple more men came in, looked at the three of them strangely, then headed for separate stalls.

Ted and Gerry quieted down right away, and as they were walking out, Stranger said, “Good luck, guys.”

Together, Ted and Gerry said, “Thanks, and good luck to you, too.”

They jerked their heads toward each other, probably surprised that they had said the same identical words at the same time, and without another, held up crook’t pinkies, interlocked them with each other, squeezed and jerked them up and down once, in togetherness.

The arms to which those pinkies were attached, went around the other’s shoulders, and, in step with each other, they happily and gaily walked out of the Men’s Room together, arm in arm, so to speak, ready to take on the world!

Walking past the bar (between the Men’s Room and the restaurant), Gerry said, “Wanna drink?  We’ve got a few minutes before the girls get back.”

“Sure, I’d love one,” said Ted, just as they heard somebody whistle very loudly, ahead of them.  Looking around, there were the girls – Beckie with her arm and hand held high, motioning for them to come on over to the restaurant.

Gerry looked at Ted;  Ted looked at Gerry;  Gerry winked at him;  he smiled at Gerry;  Gerry gave him a pat on the ass as they walked toward the girls.  His ass jerked in surprise – ever so slightly!

“You boys sure took long enough!  Find something interesting to do in there – together?” Beckie asked, grinning from ear to ear.

Ted and Gerry looked at each other, snickered, and then broke into obscene laughter.

“What the … What are you guys laughing at?” asked Sheilagh.

Ted fought to control his laughing long enough to answer.  “There was this one kid in there … must be a rock musician – too young to be a hippie … wearing the most God-awful get-up you ever seen,” (yeah;  sure;  right;  uh huh! … NOT!)  “he was acting and talkin’ like a damn fruit- … err … like nuthin’ I ever seen,” Ted stammered, then looked at Gerry, trying to show no emotion.

“Yep,” Gerry added, putting a hand on Ted’s shoulder and gently patting two or three times, letting him know that everything was OK.  “There sure are some weird ones out there.”

“Changing the subject, Gerry continued, “Now … if y’all’re all ready to eat, let’s go.”  He led the way in.  “Dinner’s on me, remember;  save your money for gamblin’!”

“Yeah.”  “OK.”  “Good deal,” they all said, one on top of the other.

Gerry paid the hostess – a little under sixty dollars for evening dinner – quite reasonable for four people, including bottomless, non-alcoholic beverages.

They chose a table rather than a booth.  From where Gerry sat, Ted was to his left, Beckie to his left, and Sheilagh to Beckie’s left and Gerry’s right.  Gerry figured Ted and he could play ‘footsies’ or ‘kneesies.’  Heeheehee.

The overhead piped-in music played,

Tonight, tonight, won’t be just any night.

Amen to that!  The joy is in the journey, Gerry thought, and looking around, found that his three tablemates had silent, distant, dreamy smiles on their faces, each probably with similar thoughts as he had just had, and each was looking toward his or her object of affection.

A cute little Server came to the table to take their drink orders.  He had a white napkin or small towel draped over his left arm.  In his slight British accent, he said, “Good evening.  May I take your drink orders, please?”

Lifting the beverage menu from between the salt and pepper shakers on the table, Gerry said, “If you’d like wine or beer, here’s the list,” and handed it to Sheilagh.  “And while the girls are looking, Steve,” he said, noticing the Server’s name-tag, “I’ll just have cranberry juice.  I’m the designated driver, tonight.”

“Very good, Sir.”

Handing the list to Beckie, Sheilagh said, “A glass of white house wine, please.”

“Very good, Ma’am.”

Dropping the list onto Ted’s plate, Beckie looked toward Sheilagh, smiled, and said, “The same,” without even bothering to acknowledge Steve.

“Very good, Ma’am;  and you, Sir?” he directed his attention to Ted, as he walked around and stood between Ted and Gerry.

“The cranberry juice sounds good;  I haven’t had any in a while.  I think I’ll have that.”

“VERY good, Sir,” Steve said as he put his left hand on Ted’s right shoulder, and his right hand on Gerry’s left shoulder.  “Have you nice people ‘bean’ here before?”

Beckie and Sheilagh shook their heads in silent response, and Ted answered, “No, Steve, we haven’t.”  Gerry didn’t answer, but nodded his head, loving to hear Steve’s accent as he went through his ‘schpiel.’

“Well, then, ladies, gentlemen, our International Service is over there,” he nodded toward a far wall to his right, and then continued.  “We have Mexican, Asian, American and Italian cuisine.  Warm plates are at each station.  Behind us,” he nodded slightly in that direction, “are our salad and dessert bars.  Now … is there anything else I might be able to help with?  Any question I might be able to answer?”

Gerry looked at his tablemates, then said, “No, but thank you, Steve.  We’ll be fine … oh, yes, and water all around, please.”

“Very good, Sir, and while you are all choosing your main courses, I shall gather your drinks and bring them to the table.”

“Thanks,” or “Thank you,” they all said, as he clicked his heels, nodded, sharply turned, and proceeded ever so properly to march off, presumably to the kitchen.

“He must have had training as a Gentleman’s Gentleman or else as a Maitre d’,” Gerry commented.

“Yes,” remarked Sheilagh, “he IS very good at what he does, isn’t he?”

They then went and inspected all the numerous choices available.  The girls, of course, first took small plates for their salads.  Ted went straight to the Chateaubriand and American veggies, heavy on the potatoes, ummmmmmm, a red-blooded meat and potato man!  I like that! Gerry thought as he took a healthy smattering of Mexican refried beans and rice, Asian sea-food soup, American broccoli with almonds and Hollandaise Sauce, and some Italian lasagna … he wasn’t much into detached red-blooded meat, himself … As they say, ‘International variety is the spice of culinary delights,’ … or something like that.

Dinner was dinner;  nothing spectacular.  Beckie twice more called Ted, ‘Teddy,’ and Gerry could tell that he would have been much happier out in the casino gambling, than glued to his seat at the table with her.  Something was going on … Gerry just couldn’t figure out what it was.

Twice during dinner, Beckie and Sheilagh excused themselves and went to ‘powder their noses.’

“What’s going on, Ted?”

“Whataya mean?”

“The tension’s building between Beckie an’ you;  particularly from her side.  What’s happening?  An’ I can tell you’d rather not be here.”

“Awww, Gerry … <Ted let out a deep sigh> … it’s nothing, man … I’ll be okay.”  He could tell that Ted wanted to say something, and then decided against it.

“Well, I’m here for you, buddy, if you need to talk, or if I can help in any way … and I do mean, in any way.”  Gerry grinned and emphasized the word.

Ted chuckled and said, “I may take you up on that …”

“I certainly hope so.”

“… sooner than you think!”

“All right, then.  Let’s go!”

“Go where?” asked Beckie as she and Sheilagh returned.

“Oh … uhhh … I was just telling Ted, now that we’re through with dinner, let’s go out and do some gambling!  You girls ready?”

After leaving a nice tip for Steve who had frequently stopped by to remove dirty plates as they brought back more from additional trips to the foods, and for his other attendant courtesies, they walked out of the restaurant and through the casino.  Not having any cigarettes with him, Gerry had to enjoy deep-breathing the used smoke.  The girls were complaining about the ‘stinky haze’, and Beckie even asked if they could leave.

“Oh, let’s not,” begged Ted as their trek through the aisles of slot machines proved futile at finding one not in use.  “I still feel lucky tonight. 

Beckie groaned a disgruntled objection, but Sheilagh came round and said, “Come on, Babe.  Let’s go freshen up again while the guys find a machine.”

“Good idea, Sheil,” Beckie used the familiar nickname.  “At least we can get away from all this dreadful smoke!”  She grabbed Sheilagh’s hand and off they went.

As they disappeared, Ted leaned into Gerry and said, “And I gotta take a leak first.  All those refills of cranberry juice are going right through me.”

“Okay, Babe,” Gerry said with a wink.  “I’ll just keep looking around for a good machine.”

“Make sure it’s a good one!  We’re gonna hit it big, tonight;  I just know it, Ger!”  That said, Ted dashed toward the Men’s Lounge.  “But don’t play without me!” he hollered back, over the din of the casino patrons.   Gerry grinned at the play on words.

As Ted was hurrying away, Gerry feasted his eyes on his new friend’s delectable ass.  Damn!  I love you, Ted, he thought to himself.  I know it’s too early to feel this way, but, goddammit!  I DO! … I DO!  I DO!  I DO!

Looking around, he suddenly felt empty, not being near Ted, not breathing in the scent of the man who had so recently stolen his heart, not being …

And then his heart stopped … or at least, he felt as if it had! The pain in his chest was tremendous, unbearable – not the pain of hurt, but the purest pain of sudden, exquisite JOY!   Standing behind the dealer at a Baccarat table not far away was none other than …

“TONY!” he yelled, gasping, jerking for breath, tears welling up, overjoyed, yet shocked at the vision before him.  “TONY!” he yelled again.

 Flashes of memory raced through his head – a naked, beaten, brutalized, bleeding Tony on the hard, cold, wet concrete floor of a prison shower-room – the domineering, perfectionist pit boss and instructor he had idolized and worshiped – the gentle, warm, tender lover he had so willingly given himself to during those last stormy moments they’d spent together, more than five years before – the man he truly loved, and would love forever.

Several people glanced at him with frowns as if he had disturbed their luck, and then just as quickly, returned to their own passions, their own addictions.

He wanted to run … to run straight into Tony’s arms, but his feet wouldn’t move.  He held his hands up in the direction of the Baccarat table.  Tony seemed to be looking straight into his eyes, then turned to look behind himself, and looked back over his shoulder to Gerry.

You’re … NOT…  Tony, he realized and quietly said to himself as his legs gave way and he fell against the back of the hag sitting at a machine, puffing away on the burned-out butt of a cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth. The drink in her hand flew into the air and crashed down on her, further spoiling her already unkempt hair and spilling down the front of her mangy clothes.

“Aiiiiiiiiiiiiii!  Yeewww sonuvabitchin’ mutherfucker,” she screamed as she jumped up, spun around and swung at Gerry, missing by a mile.  “Yeewww ru’ned me bloody luck,” she wailed just before she drunkenly teetered and toppled to the floor.

Recovering somewhat from his own fall, Gerry hesitantly moved to help the woman.

“Raaaaaaape!” she screamed, her breath reeking of alcohol.  “Git this blimey sod off’en me.”  She spit at him.

Three security guards were immediately there to assist – one helping Gerry to his feet;  another, with difficulty, trying to help the woman to hers;  and a third retrieving the few tokens from the coin tray and dropping them into the woman’s rather ratty handbag.

“Now come along, Mary.  You’ve played long enough tonight.  It’s getting late, you’ve had a lot to drink, and it’s time for you to say goodnight.”

“But I’ve only jest begun ta git lucky …”  her slurred voice faded as two of the guards escorted her through the throng of players to God-only-knows where.

“Are you all right, Sir?” asked the remaining guard as his hand brushed away any ‘invisible’ dust or dirt from Gerry’s shirt.

Gerry nodded his head.  “Yes I’m all right do you security people know that woman?” he asked with no pause in his speech.

“Yes, Sir;  we do,” he answered.  “She’s homeless; has no place of her own;  one of the few street-people around here.  She begs for coins all day long, and then comes in nearly every night, trying to get rich quick.  She must have been lucky tonight, working her way up from the nickel machines to the dollar slots.  We all feel sorry for her, so we don’t kick her out as long as she’s playing;  she’s harmless, really.  She sleeps in a card-board box across the street, out in the desert.”

“Oh, the poor soul,” Gerry lamented.  “Isn’t there anything anyone can do to …”

Ted, from one direction, and Beckie and Sheilagh from another, rushed upon Gerry.

“What happened?”  “What’s this all about?”  “What was all the commotion over here?” They all asked at the same time.

Gerry held up both hands in a sort of ‘don’t touch’ manner.  The girls backed away a bit, but Ted drew him in tighter to his side.  Gerry continued, “It’s all right, now;  it’s all over.  Just a player who got angry.”

“At what?” Ted asked.

“I … uhhh …” Gerry chewed on his upper lip a couple of times as he looked past Ted toward the Baccarat table, saw Tony’s look-alike once more, took a deep breath and slowly let it out, and then looked back at Ted.  “I … uhhh … got a little dizzy and tripped and fell.”  He tried to make light of the situation, without explaining the real reason, in front of Ted.

“You fell?” asked a visibly concerned Ted.

Before Gerry could answer, Beckie blurted out, “You should sue this fuckin’ smoky casino.”

“Yeah,” Sheilagh added.  “Did you get hurt?”  She then looked at the security guy and asked, “Aren’t you going to take him back … somewhere … to the first-aid room?”

The remaining security officer, who was busy tidying up the area, jerked his attention back to Gerry.

“Yes.  I fell,” Gerry answered Ted.  “No.  I didn’t get hurt and no, I don’t need first-aid,” he responded to Sheilagh’s comments.  “And no!  Definitely no!  I am not going to sue the casino.  It was all my own fault, anyway,” he glared at Beckie, then looked apologetically toward the officer.  “Let’s all just forget it for now, and enjoy ourselves.”

“Are you sure, Sir!  I’m certain the casino would cover any …”

Gerry interrupted him.  “There’s no need for that, Officer, but I do appreciate your concern.

Just then, Gerry realized that the recently vacated machine was a MegaBucks DOLLAR slot machine, and it was offering a Mega Jackpot of $3,413,656.00 plus increasing fractions of a penny each second.

“Was that poor ol’ woman playing this machine, Officer?”

He nodded.

“I’ve got an idea,” Gerry said excitedly.  “Look at that jackpot – nearly three-and-a-half MILLION dollars!”  Let’s all pitch in just ten dollars apiece, pool the money into the machine, and let Ted, here, who said he felt VERY lucky tonight, pull the lever or hit the buttons!  Then, when any jackpot hits, no matter what the amount, we split it four ways.  Okay?  Everybody game?  Then we can leave if everybody wants to.”

“Yeah, I like that idea,” Ted said in a happier tone than Gerry had heard during much of the evening.  “That way, it gives us all, better odds!”

“Good luck to you ladies, and to you gentlemen,” the Security Officer bid them, as he turned and left.

“I’ll pitch in and ante the kitty,” said Sheilagh, as she opened her bag and withdrew a ten-dollar bill.

“Okayyyyy,” resigned Beckie as she, too, reached in her bag, “then, AFTER the forty dollars are gone, may we leave this PUTRID place?”

Gerry shoved his ten into the money slot, then Sheilagh, then Ted, and finally, begrudgingly, so did Beckie.

“ALRIGHT!  Go for it, buddy!” Gerry slapped Ted on the back.  He hit the ‘Bet’ button three times for a maximum of three dollars, then pulled the arm of the modern ‘Bandit.’

<7> <Star> <$> <$> <Flag>

Nothing!

“There’s three dollars shot to hell,” bemoaned Beckie.  Sheilagh put an arm around her shoulders to comfort her.

“It’s coming.  I can feel it,” said Ted enthusiastically, as he held both hands up to the front of the machine.  “I can feel it!”

“Do it again,” Gerry encouraged, as he put both hands on Ted’s shoulders.  He pulled the lever again.

<$> <$> <$>

“Come on, come on, come on!” Gerry told the machine.

<$> <$> <$> <7> <Flag>

“Shit!” he cried.

“Don’t worry;  it’s coming!” Ted panted, building up excited energy in his hands as he briskly rubbed them together.

“Three more dollars down the drain,” said the party-pooper.

“Come on, Ted,” encouraged Sheilagh.

“Come on, Baby,” Ted said as he pulled the lever again.

<7> <7> <7> <7>

“Come on, Babeeeee,” Ted said louder.

<7> <7> <7> <7> <Star>

In unison, three of them said, “Awwwww,” but stopped short as bells went off and horns honked, and other casino patrons began gathering around as two hundred silver tokens began falling into the money tray.

Shouts of joy from everyone, including Beckie, though from her, Gerry thought it was faked exuberance;  then he cut in and said, “We don’t touch any of the winnings now.  We keep on playing with the original forty dollars;  then, when that’s gone, we split whatever’s in the tray.”  Everyone agreed.

Ted was stroking the sides of the machine as if it were his lover.  Gerry moved in closer to him and did something he never thought he’d do in public.  He totally leaned against Ted’s backside, pressed his clothed crotch (limp though it was, at that moment) into Ted’s clothed butt, and wrapped his arms around Ted’s waist.  Then he propped his chin on Ted’s shoulder and, only loud enough for Ted to hear, said into his ear, “Make love to it, Baby.  Kiss it for me.  Press its love buttons this time.”

Ted leaned forward and ever-so-gently kissed the screen.  Gerry still had his arms around Ted’s waist, and when he straightened up, without thinking, Gerry lightly kissed him on the ear.

Very tenderly, Ted pressed the MAXIMUM BET button.  The five wheels began to spin – around and around and around and around and around.  It seemed they would never stop.

Gerry held his breath;  Sheilagh held hers.  Ted’s lips were mouthing the words, ‘Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on!’  And even Beckie got into the spirit as she slowly moved closer and closer to the machine, her fingers begging for the pay-out. 

One by one, the spinning wheels came to a slow stop …

<$> <$> <$> <$> <$>

J A C K P O T

A thunderous roar arose in the casino!  Whistles!  Bells!  Trumpets!  Car horns!  “WINNER, WINNER, JACKPOT WINNER” came from overhead speakers!  Spot lights panned the area around them.  Strobe lights flashed!

Gerry turned Ted around, hugged him with a great big bear hug, picked him up so his feet were off the floor, and spun around a couple times.  Putting him back down, they drew apart and turned to the girls.  Gerry swore to himself that the girls were in a tighter embrace than he and Ted had just been!  They reached over to the girls, tapped them on their shoulders, then Ted hugged Beckie, and Gerry hugged Sheilagh.  They formed a group hug – just the four of them, and danced around in an excited little circle.

“Excuse me, excuse me,” said a deep-voiced Mexican man in a Security uniform.  “Who’s the lucky person that just hit the Mega-Bucks Jackpot?”

“WE ALL ARE!”  they screamed together!  “WE ALL ARE!  We pooled our money.”

Other casino patrons started applauding;  still others started yelling, “Congratulations!”  “Way to go!”  “Can I borrow a couple o’ thou?”

Oh, dear me, Gerry thought;  the grabbers are really gonna start comin’ outta the woodwork now!

“Then we’ll need all four names, printed and with signatures, before we escort you to the Security Office,” the officer continued.  “By the way, I’m Chief Security Officer Jesus Olvera;  these are my partners in crime, Officer Juanita Menendez, and Officer Ron Barkley.”

All four winners nodded, shook hands and all that crap.  Then Officer Olvera continued, “We don’t give this kind of money in cash, you know.  And we have to settle a little matter with the I.R.S., too.”

He began filling out his portion of the forms.  “Let’s see … at the minute you hit the jackpot, the machine was reading $3,413, 656.69.”  Whew, he whistled.  “Oi, Chihuahua!  Congratulations, folks!”

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To be continued. 

Dear Readers:  Thanks to a very sharp and alert fan, it has come to my attention that I made a serious boo-boo in Part IV (Casa Cielo), Chapter 4.  I wrote, “Picked it up for a song from a tax/lien sale about fourteen years ago.” It should have been shown as  “five years ago”.  My sincerest apologies for the oversight.

I might say that Parts I, II, and III are, in the main, semi-autobiographical, and from the time that Gerry meets Ted, in Part IV, the remainder of the saga is pure fiction and personal fantasy with smidgens of truth scattered here and there.  Some well-known people may be shown to be in locations totally out of their own time-lines, and some businesses will be mentioned that MAY not have even existed at the time, nor even at all – in THIS universe.  If this is disturbing to you, please forgive me and just consider it the scribblings of an amateur.

But, please, keep reading as I play with the illusion of time and take you to alternate realities, for in truth, time and space do NOT exist – it is all right here, right now, this very instant.  Just keep your eyes and heart open, and enjoy the surprises ahead.

Comments welcome, please drop the author a note: 

Posted: 10/19/07