Lee stepped off the school bus and waited for it to turn the corner before tossing his backpack into a bush, changing directions, and heading to the old, abandoned post office
In the alleyway on the side, near a dumpster and behind a stack of old wooden crates, he saw when he arrived the game had already begun. A boom box to the side of them was playing a random song
They asked if he wanted to jump in on the next time around. He glanced at the scoreboard. Out of the five other boys, the highest score was 850. He liked a challenge, so said yes
Ok put your money down
He put a dollar into the pot.Na, this one two dollas
Lee reluctantly put another dollar with the others. He'd only brought three dollars with him
By the time the dice got to him the first time, the highest score was now 2900 points, over a quarter of the way to winning and Lee was just getting started
He removed his eyes from the scoreboard, shook the five dice, blew into his hand, and tossed them onto the ground. First roll, nothing scored. He had to pass the dice to his left and wait another round to try again
When he was handed the dice again, the leader had 5800 points and the lowest score besides him was 3100 points. Shake, blow, roll again. Three fives landed
He took the 500 points and passed on the last two dice. He knew he needed more points at this stage of the game but didn't want to risk what he had. He just wanted on the board before the game ended, because getting skunked is something nobody lets anyone forget. He passed the dice to his left
Lee didn't get another chance to roll. The leader reached 10,000 points and pulled the pot to himself, smiling and laughing
Ok two bucks again
I ain't got but one left
What else you got?
Just my wallet
Ok throw that in there and we'll call it good
He looked at the velcro wallet his mom gave him and placed it into the pot
The next game didn't go much better than the first. Lee had 2600 points when it was over. The winner put some of the money into the wallet and slid it into his back pocket, while he smiled into Lee's face
Hey, let's do five bucks this time
I'm busted
Well, how bout your shoes, shirt, and shorts? I mean, you been on a losing streak. This is surely your game to win. And that would be a twenty-five dollar take
Lee thought for a moment, then said,ok I'm in
The winner of the next game put the twenty dollars in his pocket, Lee began to unlace his shoes and the winner said,hey you can keep em on for one mo game
I don't got nothin left
You still have your health. We'll each put five more in the pot. If you win, you get the money and I'll let you keep your clothes. If one of us wins, we get to beat you for three minutes. Deal?
Lee thought, then asked,only fists and feet?
The boys nodded and Lee started to feel lucky again.Ok let's do it
This game started much better. Lee was the clear leader and was feeling good. Just needed to get the dice one more time
Moments later another boy rolled and all five jumped into the air, screaming, and laughing. They gave each other high fives. Lee's glasses slid to the end of his nose. He pushed them up to see five of a kind, all threes on the ground. An automatic 10,000 points and win
Lee rose to his feet and looked at the boys popping their knuckles and slapping their fists with their palms.Ok let's do this
The winner of the last game said, na I want my clothes first. I don't wanna get em dirty and tore up
Lee reluctantly slipped the shoes off, then the shirt and shorts. Two boys circled around behind him while he undressed. In his white briefs he braced himself for the approaching mob. Can I fight back?
A song began on the box (1)
The boys behind him wrapped up his arms and pulled them to his back.Ifyou can
The first fist to his cheek sent his glasses flying to the brick wall of the post office. Someone slammed a heel into his sternum. He couldn't see or breathe now, and the time had just started. Lee counted to one-eighty in his head
A direct punch to his mouth split his lip. One to the side of his head made his legs wobble. One to his nose made him see a flash of light behind his eyelids
The boys kept going once he was on the ground, kicking his stomach and head. Lee fell unconscious to the last words of the song. The boys stopped after he wasn't moving. They picked up their spoils and ran away yipping and hollering
. . . . . . . . . .
When he woke there was a girl wearing a pink backpack kneeling over him. A pair a dice shone brightly in the reflection of her pale blue eyes
Hey you're ok. You don't look too great, but I think you'll be ok.She paused then said,isn't this where you're supposed to say, you should've seen the other guy?
He sat up.I tried tofight to keepupright, but I think I got whipped this time
Well, we all got ourbattles.I'm sure you'll get em next time
When she smiled pink light reflected from her braces.The sunshinecontoured her blonde hair
She held up a neatly folded t-shirt and pair of shorts.I was walking home from school, and I found these laying on the sidewalk. I picked them up to take home to my brother, but it looks like they'll fit you and I think you need em more
Are you sure they're not someone else's?
I'm sure
Ok well, thank you. Hey, do you see my glasses anywhere around here?
I think I saw a pair on the other side of that dumpster. She pointed
He got up, dressed, then walked over to it. He found them laying near a book. He put the glasses on. As he was turning to thank the girl again, he saw that she was gone
He stared at where she had been and thought,guess she was running late to get home
He looked down and saw the book was a Bible. He looked at it for a moment, then picked it up
The Gambler flipped through the pages as he walked home
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