A break in the deal

With my recent computer problems, limited writing time, and a new-found desire to finish a book I’m working on, I’m suspending the 52 Cards project.  I plan on finishing it eventually, and to that end I’ll list the remaining cards, as they appeared in the shuffled deck back in January (I haven’t looked ahead until tonight).  Some of them might get skipped to if I feel like writing something off my regularly scheduled beaten path.

Remaining cards:

Six of Hearts (I know that it was last week’s, but I don’t want to let it go)

King of Spades (this week’s)

King of Diamonds

Seven of Clubs

King of Hearts

Three of Spades

Six of Spades (part 2 of Inside-Outside Straight)

Eight of Diamonds

Eight of Spades (part 3 of Inside-Outside Straight)

Five of Clubs

Ten of Diamonds

Ten of Hearts

Seven of Hearts

Two of Spades (part 3 of  Two-Island Lake)

Two of Clubs (part 4 of Two-Island Lake)

Nine of Diamonds

Queen of Diamonds

Eight of Hearts

Nine of Spades (part 4 of Inside-Outside Straight)

Ten of Spades (conclusion of Inside-Outside Straight)

Queen of Hearts

Six of Diamonds

“Good afternoon Mr. Clarkdale, or can I call you Zeke?”

Zeke Clarkdale did not look up from his work.  He was making six quick dots on a piece of paper that had been left on the table.  He rapidly made six more dots under each one, followed by six more to the middle left of all the dots, and finally six more to the right of each of the first two dots.  He started to connect the dots slowly.  “Zeke is fine” he said as he finished the third one.

“Zeke, my name is Hildegaard Cumberdale.  I’m here to talk to you about why you’re here.”

“I know why I’m here” Zeke said.  He had finished connecting each set of four dots, and was now shading them in.  Hildegaard watched him, and her smile didn’t break once.

“You must be a card player.”

“What’s that?” Zeke said.

“Card player.  That’s clearly a six of diamonds you’re making.”

“Heh” Zeke said, stopping for just an instant to look at what he was drawing.  “Yeah.  It kinda does.  I never thought of that one before.”

“So, it’s not a six of diamonds.”

“No.”

“What is it?”  Hildegaard was leaning over the table more than the security guard liked.  His hands were slowly reaching for the club and tazer that were hanging from his belt.

“You know” Zeke said.  He flipped the paper over and began making dots again.

“Ah yes” Hildegaard said.  She opened a simple folder and glanced at the contents.  “I’ve read  your file.  You claim you were abducted by aliens several months ago.  The underside of the ship had six lights that were diamond shaped, and they pulsated and made some kind of high pitched noise.”

“Like nails on a chalkboard in stereo surround” Zeke said.  He glanced up at Hildegaard, and then back to the paper.  He continued to make the dots, but his pace slowed.

“You also said the aliens abducted you.”

“That’s right.”

“I know a lot of people claim to be abducted by aliens.  I understand you really believe what you saw.  The state can’t let you break into radio stations to spout off about how they’re preparing to invade.”

“Somebody has to warn the people” Zeke said.  He took a deep breath and started connecting dots.

“I’ve worked with several cases like yours, but yours is…the most extreme one I’ve worked with.  A lot of abductees don’t have the degree of…challenges you have.  They’re able to go on with their lives and not let an encounter with these little gray men affect them.”

“Not gray” Zeke said.

“Excuse me?”

“They weren’t little gray men with black eyes.  They were green.  Green and scaley.  They had teeth like a crocodile.  Bright, yellow eyes.  They breathed very heavy and smelled terrible.”

“Um…”  Hildegaard quickly flipped through her notes.  “I don’t remember you mentioning those details before, at least in what I read.”

“That’s because I didn’t” Zeke said.  He began shading in another set of small diamonds.

“Then this is progress” Hildegaard said.  “So, these crocodile like aliens…did they do anything to you?”

“Yes” Zeke said.  He started looking around for another piece of paper.  Hildegaard slowly pushed a mostly blank sheet of notes towards him.

“Why do you make the diamonds?” Hildegaard asked.

“It occupies my mind.  It keeps me from thinking about it.”

“What did they do to you that was so bad?” Hildegaard asked, trying very hard not to sound like shew as talking down to Zeke.

“They used some kind of machine to scan my body.  Take readings…ph levels, blood content, immune system…”  Zeke was still making dots, but he was doing it more slowly.

“Why do you think they let you go?”

“People disappearing is more suspicious than crazies talking about aliens” Zeke said calmly.  The security guard shook his head.  A static-y burst of chatter came out of his shoulder receiver.

“On it” the guard said as he pressed the button. “Ma’am, we’ve got a situation on this floor and I’m needed.  I’m going to have to end this.”

“No no no” Hildegaard said.  “His file indicates he isn’t dangerous.  Go.  I can handle things here.  Please” Hildegaard gave the guard a look, and he shook his head in frustration as he ran out of the room.  Zeke watched him leave.  He kept making dots, but his pace continued to slow down.

“I won’t try anything” Zeke said.

“I know” Hildegaard said.  “Now, maybe these aliens were just studying humans.  You don’t know they had malicious intent.”

“Yes I do” Zeke said.  He kept making dots, but they weren’t as perfect as before.

“How can you know?  You’ve said in countless reports,  you were in some kind of weird state and unaware of your surroundings.”

“I was supposed to be.  I…heard things.  Saw screens that had invasion routes…there…there was one practicing English in a raspy tone…surrender and death will be quick or something along those lines…he was hard to understand…”

“Really.  Aliens working on English and an invasion.  That’s quite a tale Mr. Clarksdale.  I wonder why you opened up to me about all of this information that isn’t in your file.”

“You know why” Zeke said.  His lines connecting the dots were uneven and squiggly.

“Excuse me?” Hildegaard said with surprise in her voice.

“Because I’ll never forget the smell…” Zeke looked up and right into her eyes.  Hildegaard’s smile disappeared just as the door opened.  The guard forced a smile as he closed the door.

“I’m done here” Hildegaard said.  She snatched the paper away from Zeke and stormed out.  Zeke let out a nervous exhale as his hands shook.

“Are you okay?” the guard asked.  “You’re as white as a sheet.”

“Yeah…” Zeke said.  “I’d like to go back to my room now…”

Ace of Diamonds

[picture will be uploaded later]

I’ve been using the aces of the deck to write about the four unique feline personalities that live with us.  Today, that honor falls to the youngest and most unique of all of them.  Truth be told, we wouldn’t have Eileen if we had listened to Bob Barker (and/or Drew Carey).  Weevil came into our house already fixed, but Logan and Mac didn’t.  They weren’t far apart in age, and they both felt the need to breed at about the same time.  Kate had been there and done that while living on a farm, but living on the not-even-close-to mean streets of Veblen with a step-father who was allergic to cats meant my experience with kittens was limited.  After several months, Mac gave birth to a litter of six kittens, which was shocking considering she weighted no more than seven pounds when she became pregnant.  There was one kitten that was bigger than the rest, and one scraggly runt of the litter that barely made it (but did).  As the kittens were starting to become mobile, I started giving them nicknames.  Kate advised me not to name them, because then I’d want to keep them.  She was half right about that.

One night when the kittens were slowly starting to get the hang of walking, there was a white kitten with crossed, light blue eyes that started to walk towards us.  The kitten was strong on her right side, but her left side almost caved in as she walked.  I watched her make about three perfect circles before she fell and started mewing.  Before Kate could say anything, I pointed at the kitten jokingly and said “I’m gonna call you Eileen.”  Kate laughed instantly, and unknown to me at the time my joke name would not only stick, but it would help Kate fall in love with a certain cross-eyed, circle walking kitten.

As the kittens grew older, we started finding good homes for them, except one.  Kate was willing to let her go, or so she said.  As the kittens were adopted, Eileen kept dodging the eyes of all those who took kittens home.  Finally, she was the last kitten standing, and we were out of people who wanted a kitten.  I wasn’t sure we could afford to have four cats, but Eileen was slowly winning me over.  She was unlike any cat I had ever seen.  Her body white, but her tail was gray.  One ear was black and gray, the other was orange and gray.  She had a bit of black and orange fur around one eye, and her white fur was slowly gaining other colors in spots, giving her a more off-white appearance.  Her crossed blue eyes were slowly uncrossing, but they suited her better when crossed.  Eileen had inherited her mom’s size, but she had unfortunately inherited her dad’s penchant for less-than-average cat intelligence.

When Mac started to push Eileen away, Eileen took to Kate like Kate was her mom.  Whenever Kate was sitting on the couch and Eileen walked in, she would jump up and rest on her shoulder or her “shelf” as Kate calls it.  Every time Kate would purse her lips at Eileen, the kitten would come up and start licking her face.  One night Kate and I were horsing around on the couch, and Kate made a shrill shriek while I was tickling her.  Eileen came running and started glaring at me.  Kate made another high pitched squeal, and Eileen jumped up to the couch and started to bat at me.  After that, Eileen was always easy to find.  All Kate had to do was raise her voice to it’s highest pitch and Eileen would come running from wherever she might be, ready to defend her new mom.

Logan and Mac don’t have a strong allegiance to either one of us more than the other, but now Kate has an Eileen to my Weevil.  Weevil is our trump card ace of spades, but Eileen is our little ace of diamonds.  She’s unique, precious…and at times pointy on all sides (when the call comes in).  I questioned whether or not we could afford to have four cats, but I know now our lives are forever richer for letting Eileen join our family.

Seven of Diamonds

No matter how many times I blinked, I found myself awake.

It was just around sunrise, and while I didn’t want to wake up, I thought it would be as good a time as any.  Slowly, I sat up and surveyed the bedroom floor.  I saw a pair of jeans that I had been wearing last night, and that looked good enough for me.  With some socks and an old Knicks shirt, I was on my way downstairs.  My stomach was gurgling for some food, but there would be no food for at least an hour while my thyroid medication.  After my pill and a healthy glass of water were down, I thought I’d take the opportunity to get a few things done.  I walked past my study, and the call to write was strong.  I grabbed one of the several small notebooks by the door, so I could jot down ideas while I took care of a few things.

The readings on the power box were just the way I like them.  There was enough wind on the overnight to sell back to the power company, and today’s early fall day would keep the air conditioning off for most of the day.  I started gathering the sticks that had been collecting around the house.  I know Kate loves a good fire, and the only way to surprise her is to start getting it ready while she sleeps.  Once I had all the sticks collected, I took an armful of wood back to the old stump in the backyard.  With ax in hand, I began splitting wood.  That took up about an hour altogether, so I put the ax back in the shed and made my way to the kitchen.  Braeden had a big smile on his face as he shoveled a big spoonful of shredded wheat into his mouth.  “Hey kiddo.  I hope you saved a bit for me.”

“Of course daddy.  Can we play baseball out in the yard later?”

“Of course.  I just have to do a few more things and then it’s another summer day for us.”  I walked past him and rubbed his head.  His bed-head hair couldn’t get any messier.

“That’s okay.  I have a few more Batmans to watch on the TV downstairs.”

“Remember, don’t watch the new ones without me.”  I opened the fridge and pulled out a diet dew, just as the twins ran into the room.  “Morning B’Elanna.  Morning Anjelica.”

“Morning daddy” they said in unison.  They were past me in no time, and quickly pouring themselves overflowing bowls of cereal.  I took a quick turn down the stairs, and found Kate in the laundry room.  She turned and smiled as she dumped a full basket into the washer.

“You’re up early” she said.

“I couldn’t sleep anymore.  Besides, I did get most of the yard tidied up.  Are you still running into Pierre later?”

“I should, but I think we’ll be fine on cat food and litter.”  I walked over to her and held her tightly.

“Ready to work on number four?”

“Not right this second” she said as she playfully pushed me away.  I kissed her and waved as I jogged up the steps.

“I’m going to finish up in the garden for the day” I said as I walked towards the front door.  Weevil and Logan are hanging out by the front door, and I spend a few minutes petting them.  Before I know it, I’m holding all the kids and feeling the cats circle around my legs.  Kate starts to look for the camera, and it hits me.

She is looking for the camera, but I’m not in South Dakota.  I shake my head back and forth, and look at the computer screen.  The lottery numbers on the screen don’t match the rumpled ticket on my desk.  I crumple the ticket up and toss it in the trash.  “Honey, do you know where the camera is?”

“Afraid not” I say as I stare at the seven of diamonds.  Well, back to writing I think to msyelf.

Four of Diamonds

(this story is an epilogue to the stories Jack of Clubs, Jack of Hearts, Jack of Spades, and Jack of Diamonds)

The dinging sound of the bell hanging on the door didn’t stir anyone at the all-night diner.  A man in a black suit walked in and looked around.  A sleepy waitress slowly walked out to him.  Her dirty blond hair was falling out of her bun, and she had numerous small stains all over her uniform.  Her name-tag read “Hazel” and was almost at a 45 degree angle.  “Table or a booth” she asked, mustering all the energy she could.  Her eyes drifted from the man’s face to his black tie.  A large red diamond was in the center, and she had to stop herself from staring at it.  The man didn’t even notice her staring, and within seconds he walked right past her.

“I see my party, but thanks anyway.”  The man walked towards the booth at the back of the diner.  On one side of the booth were two men.  One was dressed in a brightly colored t-shirt and cargo pants, and around his neck was a long gold chain with a gold club pendant.  The other man had cargo khakis and a black polo shirt, and he had a scowl on his face.  Sitting across from them was a man wearing a dress shirt with a red tie.  He was stirring his coffee with a forlorn look.  The man in the t-shirt looked up at him, and gestured to the open seat by the man in the red tie.  “Sorry I’m late.  Traffic.”

“It’s cool.  We were just waiting for you.  Not much else to do here.”

“How did we do?”  The man in the suit asked.

“I helped a young lady come out of her shell” the man in the t-shirt said.

“I…helped a woman stay in hers, in a manner of speaking” said the man in the dress shirt.  He lifted the spoon from his coffee, and watched the drops plop into the swirling maelstrom of caffeine.

“I kept one alive” said the angry man in a polo shirt.  His gaze was turned to the window, where he looked at the world outside with contempt.

“I just helped one be reborn, thanks to keeping her fiance on task” said the man in the suit.  He looked up as the waitress came over.

“Anything for you?” she asked.

“Just a coffee, thanks.”

“Are you guys old high school friends?  None of you look like you belong together.”

“It…it’s complicated” said the man in the t-shirt.

“And private” said the angry man in black, who was still looking out the window.

“We’re old friends” said the man in the dress shirt, who went back to stirring his coffee.

“We’re just getting together.  We try to meet once in a while.”  The man in the diamond tie smiled wide.  Hazel nodded and slowly walked away.

“Well, let’s get this over with.  Nothing is going to change.”  The man in black turned away from the window, and began staring at his wrist.  The man in the diamond tie pulled out a pocket watch.  The man in the t-shirt reached into a pocket and pulled out a cell phone.  The man in the dress shirt and red tie pulled a pager from his belt.

“It might this time” said the man in the diamond tie.

“Doubt it” said the man in the red tie.

“We’ll know soon” said the man in the t-shirt. Hazel walked over with a pot of coffee, but none of the men stopped their clock watching.  She poured the man in the diamond tie a coffee and walked way.  As she walked away, she suddenly was overcome with a strange, insatiable urge.  She walked to the cash register and quickly added up the ticket for that table.  She almost felt like she was outside of her own body as she grabbed one of the ratty old leather binders that they used during the day.  She inserted the check, and walked over to the booth.  She dropped the binder on the table and walked away, and she snapped out of the trance she was in without any warning.  Dizzy, she grabbed the counter by the cash register to keep from falling.  She looked over and saw the man with the diamond tie open the binder.  He threw it in the middle of the table, and all four men looked disappointed.  The man in the diamond tie quickly drank his coffee, and stood up.  He tossed something on the table and gestured to the other three men.  One by one, they all stood up and walked toward the exit.  The men began exiting, and the man in diamond tie hung behind them and watched them leave.  Hazel walked towards the booth, but the man in the diamond tie simply smiled.

“You can keep the change” he said as he walked towards the door.  Hazel watched him walk out, and then picked up the binder.  Inside, she found a hundred dollar bill.  In the center of the table, there was a four of diamonds face up, and there was something written on it.  She picked up the card, which only read ‘Albuquerque‘.  She walked quickly to the door, but there were no cars in the lot, and no headlights on the horizon…

Jack of Diamonds

Bryce kept staring straight down.

The mall was quieting down for the night.  It was a weekday, and closing time was less than an hour away.  The recessed lights were shining down onto the counters, and through the glass onto the waiting diamonds below.  Bryce had been staring at one ring in particular for a while.  His eyes had occasionally darted around the jewelry store, but the only woman he saw working was on the phone in a rather animated conversation about how she’d gotten a bad mocha at the coffee shop a few stores over.  His eyes had shifted back to the ring, and he just kept staring at it.  Lisa had been talking about rings for a while, and she had described a ring that looked just like this one.  Bryce drummed his fingers on the glass, and got ready to head for the wide open exit.  His eyes shifted focus from the diamonds behind the glass to the glass itself, where he saw his own reflection, along with the reflection of a man looking over his shoulder.  Bryce felt oddly uncomfortable, but the man started speaking before he could even turn around.

“Looks like you’ve zeroed in on a very nice ring” the man said.  His voice was calm and deep, and his face and hair almost made him look like a news anchor.  His black suit looked fresh off the rack, and his black tie was only broken up by one solitary red diamond that was centered exactly.

“Yeah…this one right here.  I…just…I mean, I’m not sure I want to buy it today.”

“Any particular reason?  Tight on cash?  The store is having a huge sale.”

“No…no.  I’ve got enough money socked away to pay for most, and I know I’ll qualify for the financing.”

The man squinted his eyes, and a smirk crept across his face.  “I think I understand.”

“Excuse me?”

“You don’t know if you’re ready to buy the ring, because  you don’t know if this is the woman you want to spend your life with.”

“Well…I don’t know if I’d go that far…”

“But you don’t think you’d go so far as to buy her the ring.”

Bryce looked away for a second.  The other store worker had her back turned, and was becoming more animated as her conversation went on.  “I gotta tell you…I sell insurance for a living, and you’re not doing a great sales pitch with me.”  He looked back at the man, who was still smirking.

“Ah, but I’m not the one who needs to do the selling.  You have to sell yourself on the ring, and your future.  If you found the perfect ring…”

“…what makes you think I found the perfect ring?”  Bryce was starting to shift his body language into a near-defensive posture.

“You’ve been staring at it for twenty minutes.  I’ve seen that look.  The only time I see that look is right before somebody takes the plunge.  You’ve got cold feet.”

“Hey, I didn’t come here to get psycho-analyzed.”

“Then why come here?”

Bryce wanted to leave the store.  His hands were balled into tight fists.  He couldn’t believe a ring salesman was going Dr. Phil on him.  “I came here to look over the rings.”

“Because you want to propose.”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.”

“And here you are, with the perfect ring less than a yard away, and you’re ready to walk out without it.  Why?”  Bryce didn’t answer.  As angry as he was getting, there was a lot the salesman was getting right.  “You’re not sure she’s the one, are you?”

“Well…I’m mostly sure.  We’ve been dating a long time.”

“But there was another before her, wasn’t there?”

“Yeah, a few.”

“But only one you thought about buying a ring for.  You though she was your soul-mate.”

Bryce’s hands were relaxing, and he felt himself easing up, partially because the salesperson was getting so much of the story right.  “I did” Bryce replied, not sure why he was still engaging in the conversation.

“There are things about the current woman you don’t like?”

“No, it isn’t that…I mean, sure, she chews her gum a bit loudly, her mother is nuts, she doesn’t like football…”

“Nothing major though, just a few little things?”

“Little things can add up.”

“Your ex…she didn’t have little things?”

“Well, not those exact things…”

“She had different things that bothered you?”

“I…I don’t know.  Yes?  Look, why are are you asking me all these questions?”

“The fact you came in to find a ring tells me you’re ready to make a big commitment.  Yet, you hesitate.  Does the current girl love you as much as the ex?”

“Yeah…maybe more.  She’s been with me longer…”

“Does she make you happy?”

Bryce nodded.  “Yeah, I’m sure of that.”

The smirk on the well dressed man shifted into a full smile.  “A wise man once said that love is the only chance you will ever have for happiness in this life.”

Bryce started to smile a bit.  “That sounds like some pretty good wisdom Mister…uh, what was your name again?”

“You can just call me Jack.”

“Well Jack, I was ready to storm out, but I think you’ve just sold me.”  Bryce turned back to the glass counter, and his eyes went back to the ring.  “I’m ready.”

“Great.  Sorry about the wait” came a woman’s voice from behind the counter.  Bryce looked up, and the red-haired worker who had been on the phone was now standing in front of him.  “I take it you want to get that one?”  She pointed right at the ring Bryce had been eyeing all night.

“That’s the one.  You guys are good.”

“Guys?”

“You and Jack” Bryce turned around, but he saw no one.

“Jack?”

“The guy in the suit who was in here?  I thought he worked here?”

“No…nobody else is working tonight besides me, and I know there’s nobody named Jack on the payroll.”

“Then…then who…”

“Who what?”

“Never mind.  I’ll just take that one.”  Bryce tried to shrug off the conversation, but it lingered in his head.  The clerk unlocked the case and lifted out the display with the ring he’d picked out.  “What the hell?”  The clerk dropped the display on the floor, and she and Bryce stared into the  case.  A jack of diamonds was showing face up where the display had been sitting.

Two of Diamonds

Two Island Lake: Part 2 of 4 (Part 1)

“Here’s your order, hot and fresh!”  Dez Diamond forced a big smile as she haned the bag of tacos to the man in the car.  The man flashed a quick smile and drove away.  Dez kept smiling as the car drove away.  Once the car was back on the street, her smile vanished.  “You’re lucky I don’t believe in spitting in the food here” she mumbled to herself.

“What’s that?” Dez put her smile back on as her eyes met Scott’s eyes.  Scott was almost thirty, and had spent the better part of his post high school life working his way up to night manager at Taco John’s.  He was starting to push 300 pounds, and his hairline was in full retreat.

“Just happy to serve supper to our glorious principal.”

“Heh” Scott said.  “I never top off his potato oles.  I can’t believe he still has that job.  He was old when I graduated.”

“He’s only older and crankier.  I’m glad you’re understanding about detention.”

“Hey, as long as you don’t pass me on the all time list.”  Scott tore open a new bag of oles while Dez looked at the entrance, just in time to see Corey and Hannah walk in.

“Welcome to Taco Johns bitches!”  Dez said in an excited voice.

“Slow night?” Hannah said as she looked around at the empty tables.

“Slow enough.  Where have you two been?”

“I finally got to visit one of the islands on Two Island Lake, thanks to Corey and his dad’s boat.”

“Eh, it was nothing” Corey said while he read over the menu again.  He was finally starting to put the weird feeling the North island had given him.

“So, what can I get you two, or did you just come in to chat?”

“Taco salad” Corey said.

“I’m buying.  Just give me the super burrito combo.”  Hannah said.

“You’re positively glowing” Dez remarked as she started pressing the buttons on the cash register.  “That good of an island huh?”  Dez’s wicked grin caught Hannah’s eye, and Hannah’s hat caught Dez in the face.

“It was, but not like that you perv!  Scott, you need to have a word with your staff.”

“Hey, if she shows up, I’m happy.”

“Here’s your hat” Dez said as the threw it back.  “Next time I’ll fill it with nacho cheese.  You total is seven-thirty-nine.”

“It was a really peaceful island.  It might be a good spot for one of our last Friday nights.”

“Really?  What about police and game wardens?”

“The lake is only accessible by gravel roads.  Plus, my dad’s been taking me fishing there since I was a little girl, most of the time without a license.  Nobody ever checks on that lake.”

“Yeah, because you never catch anything” Corey chimed in from a corner booth.  Without looking, Hannah threw her red hat in his direction.  It bounced off a window and fell to the ground.  “Your aim isn’t much better.”

“How about tomorrow?  I think I can talk to my supplier…” Dez raised her voice near the end of her statement, and she glanced back at Scott, who was nodding.

“Corey, how about it?  Can  you get the boat for a Friday night?”

Corey’s face froze for a moment.  He knew his parents were going out of town tomorrow, but the feeling of dread from the other island was suddenly vivid in his mind again.  “Uh…maybe?  Why do we have to go back?  There were a few farms around.  Maybe they’d see us and call somebody?”

“Yeah right” Dez said as she slid a tray towards Hannah.  “I say we go tomorrow.  I’ll call Seth.  We only have a few more of these before graduation.  Corey, make it happen!”

“Okay okay” Corey said.  “I can get the boat.  Just no exploring the North island.”

“Friday nights aren’t for exploring silly” Hannah said as she wrapped her lips around the straw of her soda and took a long drink.

“We’ll see what the night brings in that regard” Corey said as he picked up Hannahs’ cap.

***

*RING*

“Spade residence” Seth said.  He took a deep breath and braced for the questions that he had few answers for.

“Seth?”

“Dez!” Seth exhaled in a sigh of brief happiness and relief.  “It’s good to hear your voice.  It’s been a long day.”

“Final paper getting you down?”

“Yeah…” Seth glanced at his backpack.  His final paper was sitting on the table by it, ready to be turned in two weeks early.

“I thought you had a good start on that?”

“Writers block…what’s up?  Is this about Friday?”

“Indeed it is!  Hannah found a great place to have a good ol’ fashioned beerfest.  Small island in the middle of some lake nobody cares about.  Full moon and everything, so no worries about lights.  Just you, me, Hannah and Corey.”

“That’s it?”

“The big party is next week.  We need to prepare before graduation.  Are you in?”

“I think so.  I can find a good story to get out of the house.”

“Great.  We’re leaving around eight or so.  You can fill us in at school tomorrow.”

“Actually…I don’t know if I’ll be in.  I…have an appointment.”

“Dentist?”

“Sure” Seth was nodding vigorously before he realized he was on the phone.

“Well, I work after school at TJ’s until seven, so that’s where you can find me.  Gotta go!”  Dez’s voice was suddenly gone, and Seth calmly hung up the phone.  He walked out of the dining room, and he started walking up the stairs of his parent’s house.  The stairway had picture frame fragments and broken glass peppering the carpet.  He slowly pushed open the door of his parent’s room.  His mom was still crying as she threw clothes into a suitcase.

***

Scott walked into Taco Johns on Friday night as casually as ever.  Nikki and Steve were hard at work, and Dez was waiting patiently.  “Did you already clock out?” Scott asked.

“I came in a little early.  You can check if you want.”

“Nah.  Good enough.”

“Oh, here’s my note about not working tomorrow.  Doctor stuff.”  She handed him a folded piece of paper, with money folded inside of it.

“Good enough.  Have a nice night.”

“You too” Dez said as she grabbed her cup.  She casually walked out and to the back of the Taco Johns.  She casually opened the trunk of Scott’s car, and she quickly moved the case of beer and bottles over to her trunk.  She looked around as she closed her trunk, and satisfied that no one was watching she got into her car.  She flipped open her cell and called Hannah.  “Pick up already” Dez said before Hannah’s phone even rang.

“Hey you” Hannah said.  “We’re all at Corey’s.”

“Really?  I tried to call Seth all day.  Is he there?”

“Yeah, he walked over.  He’s kinda quiet today.”

“How can you tell?  Listen, we’re good to go.  I’ll be there soon, then it’s off to our island getaway.”

***

Corey chugged the rest of his energy drink.  Seth was just sitting on the couch.  “The TV works you know.  How about some Wii Bowling?”

“Nah, that’s okay.  I’m cool.  Just ready to get drunk.”

“Rough day at the dentist?”

“Wha?”

“The dentist” Corey said.  “Dez said you were at the dentist or something today.”

“Oh…that went fine.  Just thought I’d milk it and not show up today.”

“You didn’t miss much.  You dad have a dentist appointment too?  He wasn’t in today either.”  Seth just stared at the TV’s blank screen.  “Seth?”

“Sorry…he…I…we…mom…and dad are out this weekend.  Something came up.”

“Came up?”  Corey wasn’t buying it, but something told him not to pry.

“Family…crap…I told them I had to finish my paper.”

“Good enough.  I wonder why we’re going out to this damn island.  I mean, my parents are gone…your parents are gone…Dez’s parents are barely around…and yet we’re going to some lake?”

“Beats me.  If it’s just the four of us, why is Hannah doing her make-up?”  Seth still didn’t make eye contact with Corey.

“That’s Hannah.  I think we should talk her into staying in town.”

“Why are you so against this island?”  Seth finally looked at Corey, but Corey then looked away.

“No reason” Corey mumbled as he walked back to the kitchen.  He crumpled the empty energy drink can in his hand as he walked.

***

“Finally!”  Dez was the last out of the truck.  She had already drank two beers during the ride to Two Island Lake.  Hannah and Corey were easing the boat into the water, while Seth was holding the beer case and shopping bag.  Dez threw her arm around Seth, and Seth jumped a bit.  The glass in the shopping bag clinked slightly.  “You okay?”

“Just…stuff and stuff.  Nothing I want to talk about.”

“Seth…c’mon.  We’ve all been friends since grade school.  You can tell me.  Is it girl trouble.”

“I wish” Seth said.  “It’s nothing.  Let’s just get on the boat and get drunk.”

“I’m two beers ahead of ya” Dez said.  She looked over towards the boat.  “What’s with the fog?”  A low, thick fog was now blanketing the countryside and the lake.  It was the first fog Dez had seen so far tonight.

“Must be the air.  It is a bit humid.  All aboard!”  Hannah was already on the boat, and Corey, Seth and Dez soon followed.

Three of Diamonds

Dust flew up from the gravel road as the old Ford truck rumbled into town.  Mike saw the dust trail from the entrance to the complex.  He saw the truck hang a sharp right, and then it took a turn into the parking lot.  The truck squeaked loudly as it came to a stop inches away from Mike’s rusty Chevrolet.  Brett threw open the door and hopped out.  His green cap was almost half brown from dust, and his face was covered in sweat.  Brett’s shirt was stained and had a few holes, and his jeans looked like they were left over from a mud volleyball match.  He hadn’t even gotten out of his work boots yet.  Mike shook his head.  “Welcome to the three of diamonds softball complex.  Do you have a reservation?”

“Funny.  I’d have been here sooner but I had to wait for the Cenex to come out and fix a tractor tire.  I take it you had no other takers?”

“Not tonight.  All the guys said they were busy, and all the ladies are home for that Housewives show.  It’s the season finale or something.”

“Do you have my glove?”

Mike reached into his bat bag and tossed an old brown glove at Brett.  “Why do I keep this again?”

“Because I’d lose it, or one of my kids would let the dog chew on it.  I swear Bonnie and Lids let the dog chew on just anything of mine.  Which field are we going to use tonight?”

“Probably number three” Mike said as he glanced at the old sign.  The name of the complex had fallen down over the winter, and the rusted metal three of diamonds creaked in the breeze.  “One and two just got raked.  That’s the nice thing about three.  I never feel bad about using it.”

“No kidding.  They should call this place two diamonds and a yard softball complex.  How often do they use all three anyway?”

“Every fall festival and every time the local legion team hosts their one tournament every few years.”

Brett pounded his fist into the glove.  “Well, let’s get moving.  It’ll be dark soon enough, and I want to work on my fielding.”

***

The hum of the lights in the gravel parking lot greeted Brett and Mike as they walked to their vehicles.  Brett looked the same, but Mike was now peppered with grass and dirt stains, and his cap was turned backwards.  “I think you lost a bit of range” Mike said as he threw his bat bag into the back seat of his Chevrolet.  Brett shook his head and reached into the back of his truck.  Mike heard a cooler lid close, and he found himself lucky enough to still have the reflexes to catch the bottle of Powerade thrown at his head.

“Hey, you do ground balls in cowboy boots.  Then we’ll talk about range.”

Mike cracked open the drink and finished half the bottle before Brett even had his open.  Brett was looking around at the town just over his shoulder.  “Quiet night again.”

“Every night in South Central North Dakota is a quiet night.  I wish it was a bit noisier.  We don’t have our first game for another two weeks.”

“Are you sure we’ll have enough women on the co-ed team this year?”

“I’m more worried about the men’s league team.  Clete ripped up his knee again, and Kelly turned sixty last week.  He still might be available if we need him.”

Brett took a long drink from his bottle.  “Well, I’ll ask around.  I don’t want to suddenly have to plan something else on Mondays.”

Mike took a deep breath.  “Robin called last night.  We’re done.”

“Again?”

“This time it’s for sure.  She won’t move out here, and there’s not much room for advancement for an elevator manager with no diploma.”

“You could always GED it.”

“Brett, there are two things I don’t want to do.  Make the first out at third, and be the forty-something taking the GED.”

“Are you gonna be all right?”

“Yeah, I’ll manage.  You’re lucky to have gotten married.  You don’t have to deal with this.”

“Hah” Brett said.  Mike watched him down the rest of his Powerade and toss the bottle into his truck bed.  “No, things aren’t good there.”

“I thought you and Rose were working through things?”

“We were.  Well, I was.  Rose has given up on us.  She went off on me last week about wanting to be more than a farmer’s wife.  She’s leaving Friday for her sister’s house in Minot.”

“Damn” Mike said after he recovered his jaw from the gravel coating the parking lot.  “I had no idea.  Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Bonnie and Linda are always around, and we want to sit down with them before she leaves.”

“What…what’s going to happen with them?”

“Rose doesn’t seem to want much to do with them right now, so they’ll stay with me until we actually get paperwork filed.  She needs some space.”

“Brett, how can you be so calm about this?”

“Not much else I can be about it, really.”  Brett reached into his truck and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.  He kept talking as he started flicking the lighter.  “I got my crops in late, the girls are almost old enough to take care of themselves, and she keeps going on about missing life and wanting to go on all these trips and just see the world or whatever.  Mike, I’m a 43 year old farmer from North Dakota.  I think I’ve been to South Dakota and Montana…”

“No, for that one tournament in Wahpeton, we accidentally crossed into Minnesota.”

“Well, whatever.  The point is, I am what I am and I have no desire to roam anywhere.  I should have seen it before I married her.”

“She wasn’t always like that Brett.”

“Yeah well…” Brett took a long drag from his cigarette, then blew the smoke away from Mike.  “…what’s done is done.  I think you’re better off still being single.  Less headache and fewer kids flushing your keys down the toilet.”  Mike started laughing, but Brett wasn’t amused.  “Sure, laugh now.”

“I’m gonna head out.  ESPN has the Rockies game on tonight, and I’m hoping for good news.”

“Sounds good.  I’m going to head back out and make some calls.  We’ll get that men’s league team together yet.”

Mike and Brett drove off in separate directions, but their thoughts were almost identical.  They were both almost crying, and wishing they had each other’s problems.

Five of Diamonds

“Is this seat taken?”  The players at the table looked up at the prospective player.  He had taken off his black hat, and he was dusty and dirty from what looked like a hard day of riding.  The other players were mostly in the same condition, save for one who was obviously a professional.  The well-dressed gambler lifted his hand and gestured for the new player to sit.  “What’s your name, stranger?”

“Bob Montana” he said without hesitation.  The gambler nodded and took a sip of whiskey from his almost full glass.

“Well, I’m Dan.  The other players won’t matter soon, but they can introduce themselves if they like.”  The other men started saying their names, but Bob’s mind wasn’t on the other players or the game.  It was on what was in his jacket pocket.  The broach would be his way out of menial labor, and his first decent meal in some time.  The money he acquired with the broach hadn’t ran out yet, so he was going to try to squeeze some more out here before he got a room for the night.  He’d ride the rest of the way to Grand Jucntion tomorrow, and sell the broach for a healthy sum.

Bob, why are you in the house?  Shouldn’t you be tending the horses?

Chips and cards flew in a frenzy, and while Bob’s mind was wandering he had folded three hands.  He shook himself into focusing, and he was two cards away from a straight.  He drew the right cards, and surveyed the landscape.  Everyone but a man named Bubba and Dan the gambler had folded.  He knew Dan had only drawn one card, and it had remained on the edge of his hand.  “I’ll raise it.”

“Call” Dan said.  Bubba quickly folded.  Bob laid down his straight, but Dan started raking in the chips after showing his flush.  Bob couldn’t help but notice the card that had given him the flush.  It was the five of diamonds.

Bob, please.  Put the gun away.  What’s going on?

Bob looked down at his hand, which didn’t look like much.  That sentiment seemed  popular at the table, so he limped in and drew three cards.  His queen and king of spades were joined by the seven, four and two of spades.  Bob tried not to bite his lip as he started the betting.  This time, only Dan called his bet.  “Flush this time, hell of a lucky break.”

“My lucky break breaks you I’m afraid.”  Dan smiled as he dropped his cards.  “Best draw I’ve ever had with a pair of threes.”  Dan had a full house, fives over threes.  One of the fives was the five of diamonds.

Please…just take the money in Gilbert’s wallet.  Don’t come any closer.

Bob shook his head and reached into his pocket.  He was out of chips after just five hands, but he was buying his way back in.  I’m getting good hands.  This Dan character can’t win forever. He took the deck and shuffled it over and over.  He started dealing the cards as Dan kept a close eye on him.  Bob looked at his cards, and he had an ace, two kings, and a seven and a six.  He liked his odds, but he didn’t raise the bets at all.  After the draws were dealt out, Bob took the top two cards and slid them into his hand.  He couldn’t believe his eyes.  He had drawn an ace and a king, giving him a full house.  A cowpoke named Grim started the betting with a low bet, but it was low enough that everybody would probably call.  Dan raised the bet, and the next two players folded.  Bob had a hunch he should fold, but how could he fold a full house?  He decided to just call.  The other players couldn’t believe his full house, but they were even more stunned by Dan’s hand.  Dan had gotten a five on the draw, giving him four fives.  Bob didn’t know if the five of diamonds was drawn or if Dan had already gotten it, but he was starting to feel suspicious.

You have all the money…don’t come any closer.  What are you doing.  No…please…don’t…please don’t…

Bob was about ready to throw away his three of a kind, but Dan folded rather that meet the current bet.  Bubba raised it a bit, and Bob stuck around for the modest raise.  Grim called them both.  Bob’s three of a kind beat Bubba’s two pair, but Grim revealed a toothy, grimy grin as he let the cards fall from his hands.  “I nabbed the wheel straight on the five draw.  How about that?”  The five of diamonds was even closer to Bob now.  Each point on the diamonds seemed to be poking him about something, but he couldn’t figure out what.  He was out of chips again, and he reached into his pocket for the last of the stolen money.

Why…oh God why…please stop…please…just take anything…

Bob reached back into his pocket for the rest of the money, and his hand brushed against Madeline’s broach.  He’d grabbed it on the way out of the house, once he’d taken his former boss’s life, money, and unwilling wife.  He hadn’t felt remorse for the murder, theft and rape, but now his hand was on the broach he’d ripped off Madeline’s dress on his way out.  It was a gold horseshoe, adorned with five large…diamonds.  Bob felt a chill in the room, and Dan was looking  him over with concern.  “Are you alright Bob?  Do you want to sit this hand out?”

“No…no.  Deal me in.”  Bob angrily slammed money on the table.  Dan shook his head as Bob renewed his stack of chips.  Dan started shuffling the cards, and he didn’t mind showing off how well he could handle a deck of cards.  He fanned them, shuffled them, cut them, and then started over.  After what seemed like a minute of shuffling, Dan started dealing.  Bob picked up the first card that slid towards him and found the five of diamonds staring right at him.

***

“So, what happened here?”

“I tell you sheriff, it was the strangest thing.  He just stood up after one card and started screaming about something not being fair, and about how he was just taking what was his…he started waving his gun around and talking about losing control…being sorry…then he called me no good cheat.  He aimed his gun at my head, but Grim shot him dead where he stood.”

“Well Dan, your story matches up with everyone else’s.  I don’t have any information on this Bob fellow.  We’ll just bury him and see if anyone comes looking for him.”

“Did he have any more cash on him?”

“Nope” the sheriff said.  He rolled open the drawer on his desk and pulled out a gold horseshoe broach.  The light from the lantern caught the five set diamonds just right.  “Other than his guns, this was all he had.  He probably was on his way to give it to somebody special.  Did he owe you money?”

“Nope.  He just bled out on the table and ruined the deck of cards.  I’ll just get another at the general store in the morning.  Oddest thing, the only card without blood on it was the five of diamonds…”