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

Eight of Clubs

Bob Eubanks flipped over the card.  “Ohhh…it’s the eight of clubs!”  The contestant put her hands to her overteased hair.  Her face was a twisted mass of confusion and apprehension.

“Higher” she said in an unsure, timid voice.

“Higher than the eight…NO!” Bob said with as much fake sympathy as he could muster.  The reigning Card Sharks champion lowered her head to her podium as flashing lights surrounded the new champion.

“I tell you son…nothing worse than an eight in this game.”  The man snorted lightly and then took another large gulp of his Pabst, followed by a long drag from his cigarette.

“But dad, I like the number eight.  I’m eight.”

“Nothing wrong with the number eight…I’m just talkin’ about this show.  When they get an eight, there’s an equal number of cards above it and below it in the deck, but the trick is to remember how the deck is stacked.”

“So that’s how to win?”

“Not really.  I was watching.  She made the right call and still got it wrong.  That’s a good lesson for life.  Sometimes the eight comes up, and all you can do is guess and hope for the best.  A lot of life’s choices are like that.”

“Yeah, like marrying you” came a voice from the nearby kitchen.  The man threw his empty beer can towards the comment.  Percy looked back at the TV as the bonus round began.  If he focused on that, he could maybe tune out another argument his parents were having.  He had tried it often, but it never worked.

***

“Percy…PERCY!  Are you even listening to me?”  Percy snapped out of his childhood flashback.  He could smell the alcohol and smoke all around him.  The bar was loud, but Ray’s shouting was hard to ignore.

“Yeah…what’s this about?”

“It’s about work.  There’s a speaker in town who’s giving a free lecture to all of us who got let go when the plant closed.  I’m goin’.  There’s free food.  I think you should come.”

“Yeah…” Percy looked down at his empty beer bottle.  He didn’t have enough cash to keep drinking, and he hadn’t eaten since the plant closed the day before.  “Is this guy going to tell me how to make rent?”

“Worry about that another day.  I’m goin’ for the free food.  Are you in or out?”

“In.  I just need to settle up.”  He dropped a few ones on the bar and followed Ray out to the lot.  Ray’s brown Impala was parked right out front in a handicapped spot. “I can’t believe you still have that permit.”

“Taking a metal shard through the knee isn’t something you get over right away.  That and my doctor is a sucker for a good sob story.”  Ray’s rust-bucket roared to life, and Percy shoved a seat full of soda cans and gum wrappers onto the floor.  He stared out the window as Ray droned on and on about his girlfriend and their problems.  Percy kept thinking about making the rent for next month, finding a job, his parents, and the army.  He thought about trying to join the army again, but his criminal record would probably have the final say once again.  Ray smacked him on the arm suddenly.

“I know you stopped paying attention a long time ago, but we’re here.”  Ray and Percy got out and started walking into the hotel.  They followed the signs until they found a conference room, which was almost full.  Percy looked at the sign, but he’d never heard of James Styng or something called Arbco Strategies and Marketing.  Ray and Percy spotted a table filled with pizzas, and they went right over.

“Are you two here for the seminar?” a young woman in red asked.

“We certainly are” the men said in unison.

“Well, it’s all you can eat.  I just need some basic information.  Name, address…but I promise we won’t send you junk mail.”

“Fair enough” Ray said.  Percy started filling in the info as quickly as he could.  Soon, both he and ray were in their seats, each with a plate full of pizza.  “Man, this is the good stuff.  This is from the best place in town.”

“Well, it’s worth whatever scam this guy is peddling.”  Percy said.  No sooner did he finish than the woman in red had made her way to the podium.

“Ladies and gentleman, James Styng!”  The room responded to his intro with lukewarm applause.  James Styng walked to the front of the room.  He had on black jeans, a deep blue denim shirt, and a red tie.  He looked very young, fit, and athletic.  He didn’t have any props, gadgets or even a note card.  He took the microphone off the stand, and walked in front of the podium.  His face was totally serious.

“Good evening everyone.  Glad to see we had such a great turnout.  I suppose you’re wondering why I bribed you all to show up?”  The room let out a small snicker, and James flashed a quick smile before once again looking stern and forthright.  “Well, I’ll tell you what I didn’t do to get you to show up.  That’s close the factory in town.  That’s the reason quite a few of you are here.  Did you know the company that owned the factory is sending your jobs to Mexico, Taiwan and China?  It’s true.  They’re also hiding millions…maybe even billions in offshore accounts.  Yet their stock continues to trade high, and your federal government is looking the other way.  They’re too busy looking at you…all of you.  Most jobs in this town are looking for college educated elites.  The government isn’t interested in giving you more education to help you get those jobs.  It only wants you to get jobs quickly, so it can begin taxing you all over again.  Taxing you and keeping you in the working class, while the upper class makes light of your plight.  People, I want to help.  You are not the problem.  You are all hard workers who want to make a living.  I’m here to tell you about how we can all make a difference.  A major difference in this country…in this world!  Arbco is looking for the kind of people in this room.  People who have the potential to inflict change.  People who want another chance.  People who not only want, but DESERVE to be heard, seen, and counted.  We have programs to help retrain you…maybe even educate you.  We don’t care about who you were before you came tonight.  Arbco is here to make you into the people who can help us change the world!  Dare I say revolutionize the world?  Together, we can make a real difference.  My associates and I are going to hand out some questionnaires…please be honest when filling them out.  Take your time, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.  Then, we’ll split you into groups and discuss future opportunities with Arbco.  Before we begin, I need to mention that Arbco doesn’t have an office branch in this town.  If you wish to work for Arbco, there’s a very good chance you’ll have to move.  If that doesn’t work, I thank you for coming, and I hope you enjoyed the pizza.”  James Styng was smiling by the end of his speech, and soon a stapled questionnaire was being handed to Percy.  Ray refused his when they presented it to him.

“Sorry…I’m not willing ot relocate.  C’mon Percy.”  Ray stood up, but Percy didn’t.

“Actually, I’m going to fill it out and talk to them.” Percy had already started filling in his personal info.

“Whatever.  I’m not waiting around.”  Ray tugged on Percy’s shoulder, but the woman in red shot him a glare that made him let go almost instantly.

“No worries.  We can give you a ride home Mr. Willis.”  The woman in red had walked over quickly, and she was nothing but smiles now that Ray had released Percy’s shoulder.

“Thanks…Miss…Miss…”

“You can call me Miss Demming.”

“All right.  Let me know how it all turns out” Ray casually walked out the door, but Percy didn’t watch him leave.  He was too busy reading the questionnaire.  He honestly answered the questions about his criminal background, and even the questions about his family’s histories of addiction and abuse.  Most of the questions had to do with his attitudes on the U.S. Government, and various world powers, which he found a bit odd.  There was also a section asking about his knowledge of survival and firearms.  Several minutes after he had turned in his questionnaire, he was enjoying more of the free pizza when James Styng came up to him.

“I read through your info.  I just want you to know that we have a place for you within our organization.  You’re the type we’re looking for.  Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Did you ever want to join the army, or some other branch of the armed forces?”

“Oh, for sure, but I made some dumb mistakes when I was younger.  Wrong way on pretty much every eight.”

“Excuse me?”

“Sorry…I just want to start over.  Your company seriously won’t hold my mistakes over my head?”

“No.  Quite the contrary.  I think you’ll be just what this company needs.  In fact, we can start you tomorrow…”

***

“You’re WHAT?” Ray shouted over the phone.

“I’m leaving tomorrow morning.  Six AM sharp.  I don’t know when I’ll be back.  You have my apartment key.  Please keep an eye on my stuff.  My rent is up in two weeks.  You owe me for helping you move.”

“I know I know, but this is so sudden.  But whatever.  I’ll haul your crap out and put it in my garage.  What are you going to do?”

“Arbco security the way it sounds.  If I do well there, there are opportunities for me to advance…possibly even to law school.”

“Law school?  What the hell?  How does that work?”

“I don’t know and I don’t care.  You take care of yourself and that lady friend.  You’re my favorite cousin, no matter what.”

“Back at ya.  Don’t forget to write.”

***

Ray rubbed his eyes as he slowly made his way down the stairs.  It was just cold enough that his sore knee was acting up.  He moved the thin curtain in front of the door’s window, and Percy was looking back at him.  Ray hurriedly fumbled the lock and opened the door.  “Percy?  Is that you?”

“It is.  I can’t stay long.”  Ray looked Percy over.  Percy’s hair was cut into a neat crew cut, and his face was tan.  He was wearing a black jacket that looked a bit thin for Michigan in November.  His blue pants were neatly pressed, and his boots were laced up and looking brand new.

“You look great.  I was starting to worry about you.”  Ray closed the door as Percy walked in.  Percy blew into his hands and looked around from the entryway.

“Do you have some coffee?”

“Sure…sure.”  Ray walked into the kitchen, and Percy was right behind him.  Ray fired up the coffee maker as Percy sat at the kitchen table, still blowing into his hands.  “Percy, where the hell have you been?  This is the first I’ve heard from you in eighteen months!”

“Sorry…the job…it’s…more involved than I thought.  It’s kept me really busy.  Technically, I’m not even supposed to be here talking to you.”

“You’re AWOL from your job?”

“No…no.  I…just had an assignment around here, and I took the initiative to come and see you.  I miss you man.”

“Things aren’t the same without you around.  Naomi and I are living together now.  I’d love for you to come to our wedding in a year or so.  Right after I propose anyway.”

“I’ll try.  I’d like that.”

Ray watched the coffee drip slowly into the pot.  “So, what the heck does Arbco do anyway?  I couldn’t find much info…anywhere.  In fact, I can’t find anybody who’s even heard of Arbco.”

Percy looked about the kitchen nervously.  “Well, we…uh…we do a lot of contract work with Extensive Enterprises.  Have you heard of them?”

“No…wait, yes I have.  Naomi’s brother does a lot of stock trading, and he’s always raving about how well his EE stocks are doing.  What do they do?”

“Financial stuff…I mostly do…security…but they have branches everywhere.  I move around a lot.”

“What about training?  I thought this Arbco outfit was going to retrain you.”  Ray sat the coffee in front of Percy, but Percy’s face was almost blank.  He looked timid yet on the verge of exploding.

“I’ve learned a lot of stuff.  I’m hoping to get some advanced training in soon…things are good.  I finally found a place to belong.”  Percy slowly sipped his coffee, while Ray kept looking at a man who seemed uncomfortable in his home, and uncomfortable talking about being away from home.

***

“I got it” Ray said as he walked to the door.  He was hoping it would be Percy, as he hadn’t heard from him in two years, and Ray wanted him at his wedding in a few weeks.  Ray opened the door, only to see two men in army dress uniforms outside his door. One was an African-American sergeant, the other was a Caucasian lieutenant with longer hair than Ray would have expected.

“Are you Ray Willis?” the sergeant asked.  The name Wilkinson caught the sunlight as he asked.  Ray could feel the man’s glare though the dark glasses that hid Wilkinson’s eyes.

“I am…what’s this about?’

“Your cousin…Percy Willis…does that ring a bell?”  The blond lieutenant was now talking.  Ray spotted the name Rich on his uniform.

“Yeah….he was last here about two years ago.  I was actually hoping he was going to be you…I mean, him knocking…I mean…what’s this about?”

“I’m afraid you cousin has passed away.  I’m sorry for your loss” Wilkinson said.

“Percy’s dead?”  Ray slumped against the side of his home.  He looked down at the porch and shook his head.  “What happened?”

“I’m afraid there…was an incident.  The actual details are classified.  We are sorry for your loss, but we need to ask a question.”

“Oh…okay…”  Ray looked up at the sergeant.  The blond man was staring at him without glasses.  It felt like he was looking right through him.

“Before he died, he mumbled something about eights.  Do you know what that meant?”

“Percy loved that old game show Card Sharks.  He always went on about how…eights were a lot like life.  He claimed he always went wrong on them, but the last time I saw him he said that this Arbco company was the right call.  Why?”

The blond man nodded and started walking towards a black Humvee that was parked in front of Ray’s house.  The sergeant took off his glasses and looked down.  “Before he died, he was mumbling something about eights and dying.  We just wanted to make sure of what he was talking about.  Thanks for your time.  You’ll probably be getting a call from the funeral home pretty soon.”  Ray fought back tears as the black Humvee drove off down the street.