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

Five of Hearts

Bryce took a sharp right and walked down the long hallway.  Room 324 was just ahead, and once he was done there, he could call it a night.  He tugged at his gray shirt, and itched his neck where the strap from his lanyard rubbed on his neck.  His mind was on a bowl of queso dip, the Rockies game, and a long night alone.  He swung open the door and froze in his tracks.  An older woman, maybe in her early fifties was sitting on the bed.  A mountain of tissues were beside her, and her face was painted with sadness and exhaustion.  She looked up as Bryce entered the room, and she took a deep breath.  Bryce was about to speak, but she cut him off.  “I was wondering when you’d get here” she said, almost sobbing the words as she spoke them.

“Ma’am…” Bryce was more than ready to continue, but the woman cut him off once again.

“I’ve been here for an hour, waiting for the hospital to send some kind of grief counselor.  They certainly don’t dress you very nicely” she said.  She was dressed in a black pantsuit that fit her frame nicely, and she was looking at Bryce’s gray shirt and jeans with contempt.  “And a lanyard to boot.  I should have known.  It wouldn’t kill them to have you people wear suits would it.  Oh, listen to me.  My husband died a few hours ago, and all I can do is criticize the damn hospital.  It’s nothing personal…Bryce.”

Bryce nodded as the woman continued.

“I know I need to go home and start getting affairs in order.  Kennith, rest his soul, knew that the end was probably coming.  He already picked his headstone and funeral home.  I helped him write his obituary a few months ago.  I had to do all the heavy lifting to stay positive.  All he could think about was how he was going to die.  He wasn’t even sure he wanted the heart transplant.  We were getting closer and closer.  Do you see this?”

The woman held a five of hearts in the air, and Bryce nodded.

“We started with the ten of hearts.  Kennith had a common blood type, and we moved up the waiting list for a donor heart pretty quickly, all things considered.  Every month or so a new card came in the mail from his surgeon.  He hand delivered the five two nights ago, right after we checked in.  We were halfway there.  The doctor even had the other cards in his pocket.  He thought that we’d have a donor if Kennith could just hold on a bit longer, but he didn’t.”  The woman started sniffling, and she took another tissue.  “I guess they were off a bit on how much time he had left.  I don’t blame them.  Do you know why?”

Bryce shook his head and started to open his mouth.  No words came out as the woman’s face began to fade from white to red.

“I’ll tell you why.  Kennith just gave up a few months ago.  That man had a heart that was slowly dying, and he started off good.  He really did.  He ate right, he quit smoking and drinking…even coffee.  Ever since the night he picked out his headstone he changed.  I know he was smoking.  I found the cigarette butts on our lawn.  I found the beer cans buried at the bottom of the trash last week.  He swears it wasn’t him, but on the way here I saw the ashtray in his car was full.  Hell, I found Slim Jim wrappers and Arby’s coupons in the backseat.  Is that crap really worth your life?  IS IT?”

Bryce quickly shook his head no.  He was starting to feel very uncomfortable.  The woman stood up, and the bed rolled back from where she stood.  She took a deep breath and walked to the window.  Bryce took a step forward, but she snapped back around like a slamming screen door.

“He slept with my sister you know. I’ve known for years.  It was just ten years ago, and we’ve been married for twenty.  I’ve played nice for years, even though I knew all about it from my loudmouth sister’s co-worker, who also happens to work with me on the parks committee.  I called my sister on it a year ago, and she confessed.  Now, I haven’t spoken to her since, but I’ll have to invite her to the damn funeral, won’t I?  The hell I will.  Do  you know he didn’t even confess as he was dying?  He didn’t say a damn word, even as he knew the end was coming.  He didn’t confess about my sister, or his secretary, or even our neighbor Florence.  He didn’t confess to any of his affairs, the money he hid, the dents he put in my car…any of it!  HE DIED WITHOUT EVEN SAYING HE LOVED ME!  I STOOD BY HIM UNTIL THE END AND HE…and he…”

The woman started sobbing again, and Bryce stood there with his hands at his sides.  He moved them behind his back, the he almost crossed his arms, and then he briefly cupped them in front of him, just below the belt-line.  He let them drop back to the sides as the woman straightened her back, and wiped her tear and makeup stained hands on her hips.

“He was my husband, but he’s gone now.  I’m going to go make some phone calls.  The funeral home already has all of his plans, so they don’t need me.  I’m going to throw out his stash of skin magazines, all of the cigars he was saving, and I’m going to pour his fifty year old scotch down the drain. Once the funeral is over I’m moving all his shit onto the front lawn, and I’ll have one hell of a garage sale.  Then I’m going to sell the house and start over.  Thanks for coming, but I don’t need  a grief counselor now.  I’m through grieving for that man.  I’m going to just move on.  Thanks for finally showing up.”  The woman’s shoes clacked on the floor as she strode past Bryce.  She swung open the door rapidly, and it slammed behind Bryce’s back.  He just stood there for a moment.  He heard the door open again, and then close behind him.

“Mrs. Sewich?”  came a voice.  A younger man in a suit walked past Bryce and looked around the room.  He looked back at Bryce and pointed his pen.  “Have you seen Mrs. Sewich?  I’m Carlton, and I’m here to serve as her grief counselor.”

“I don’t know where she is” Bryce said.  “I’m just here to fix the bed so the wheels lock.”

Five of Spades

The radio played another old song that I didn’t know.  I was still wondering what station 92.1 was, but no CD or cassette looked good.  I shuffled the cards one more time and started yet another game of solitaire.  Once the cards were dealt, stacked, and moved around I turned over the first three cards from the deck.  The top card was the five of spades, and there was a red six on the board.  The two cards under the five weren’t helpful at the present time, and I had the urge to go through the deck once before playing the five.  Then again, the chances of both fives coming up was slim.  I was locked up in thought, paralyzed by the decision I had to make.

Play the five or wait.

Wait for Biff to call or make other plans.

Plan for the future or let it come.

Come to my senses about my car or squeeze out another year or two.

Two jobs or just keep the one I have now.

Now is the time to look for a new job, or stick with the one?

One more soda, or just drink water?

Water down my hopes and dreams, or renew my sense of purpose in this life?

Life…was the cereal as bad as I remembered it was?

Was I going to die alone in this apartment, or was tonight the night to work on meeting someone?

Someone is out there, or did my someone already meet me and move on?

On this weekend or not?  I can’t remember.

Remember the times I had with her, or forget about that one night.

Night time was made for doing something…anything.

Anything on TV?  Maybe I could play a video game.

Gaming while trying to ask out Cindy was a bad idea.

Ideas are always around, but I never have time.

Time is scarce lately.  That’s a good paycheck.

Paycheck this month?  How much for bills?  How much have I already spent?

Spent some time at the bar a few months ago.  Nothing happened.

Happened to run into Chris from Norton though.  He’s nice.

Nice is what I’m always called, but it seems like women are into bad guys.

Guys from the station might be out.  I wonder if they’ll say something about yesterday.

Yesterday, or was that last week?

Weeks are flying by.  Why am I still here?

Here is pretty good, and there might not be better.  Yet I still want to go there.

There’s a strong wind tonight.  Jacket or a long sleeved shirt?

Shirt with the Cheat on it got attention from that one bartender.  I wonder if she’s working?

Working on a good opening line.  What’s the point?

Pointing out how bad it is…that’s what Biff will do.

Do I think tonight is like any other night?  Maybe I should just watch a movie.

Movies are for Sunday nights.  Friday nights are for…crap, I don’t  know.

Know thy own self, but I don’t see why I should.

Should I just call it a night already? It is close to 8:30 PM.  I could make a trip Saturday.  Sioux Falls sounds keen.

Keen?  Did I just think that?

That’s the phone.

I pick up the phone, and it’s Biff.  Soon, I’m on my way out the door to his apartment, and the cards have been scooped up and put away.  I’ll never know what the right call on the five of spades would have been, other than calling the whole thing an oddly appropriate microcosm of my mind and the many choices that I can’t seem to make on time or correctly.

That was a long time ago, but sometimes those chains of thought still lock me up in my tracks.

I wasn’t sure if I should use this entry, but sometimes you have to play the five.

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…”