chasing he dragon...a sad story on gambling it all away

it was full, all those gathered round standing room only, the smoke
was thick in the air, heavy with sweat, cheap perfume and whiskey, bad
breath and some who hadn't taken a bath in days.

Come on, baby, Hard 8, Hard 8, just a few turns of those bones, 10 on
the line, 5 on the come, and 3 on Hard 8.


Come on shooter, 8, 8, don't be late. He picked those two white gems
and rolled them in his fingers, the old guys sitting a little ways
away watched him like a hawk. He was up, had made the point 4 times,
took his 54 across and made it 300, 91 on placed on 8.


Oh, man let me make this number, just one time lord, let me have this
day, let me roll for an hour maybe more, just a few more. he stopped
and with his left hand picked up some quarter chips, dropped down 50
on the pass, and with tem times odd, dropped six more hehind. He
picked up some nickels and made a call bet, Three WAY 8 on the turn!
Pyaoff was fifteen to one, he could taste it the next roll was his.


The people were standing wide eyed dropping their chips on the table,
wanting to squeeze every damn dime they could out off that table, he
was gonna roll them bones all night.


A woman, all liquored up, saw his Washington Redskin cap, maroon it
was and said, Cat in the Hat, roll that 8, and we can party till dawn.
She was a real breezer, dress slit up the side and her every breath
took the table away from the action to look at her just standing there
ready to fall out. Man what a sight.


Hold them gently, those two bones, black spots, three and three
staring straight up, the noise was loud, everyone was shouting, HEY
MAKE THAT 8.


It was Tuesday morning, early, maybe 5, couldn't tell there were no
clocks around, the air was thick with hanging white clouds, you
couldn't see the walls. He forgot to call in, was supposed to have
been home, Saturday had stopped off to play a little dice. Ended up
standing there three days and nights, finding a dive for $22 a night,
cheap steaks for 4 and a quarter. What a life, nothing stops.


Had run a little low on Saturday, dropped 400 off the bat, went to the
machine three times and maxed out ont the daily limit, went to cage
and found an advance for 12.50 in change, he was there four times in
one day. It was really bad those bones, they weren't rolling the way
they should. Got to stay in the game it will come, my roll will come.


Down, a little, maybe 1800. The rent can wait, the llittle lady better
not shop for food this weekend, she should know I might need a little
to get me by. don'e look at the atm receipts, stuffed them all in the
back pocket and it was full.


He had stepped up to the table and started with 40 and had thrown
seven three times in a row, hit a Hard 6, then a five, and look at how
the chips were all coming his way, gotta get even, gotta get even, go
home a winner, man it would be nice to go home a winnner. I am not
loser.


The dice rolled his way, the chips stacked up, this is why I came, to
put it all out there, can't make any money if you don't risk it. The
dealers eyes were narrow slits, easy smiles, drop one on the line for
the boys. He said fifteen across, and they took it down when it hit,
no they didn't let it stay out there. Come on Cat in the Hat, put
something on the line for the boys, they chanted.


He was up there, and the chips were flowing in, I am a winner, this is
the roll I have been waiting for, come eight, don't be late, four by
four, let me see it. He shook the dice with one hand, the blonde said
let me blow on it for you and she brushed against him, he forgot about
the game for second, his libido went into high gear, but then the
thought of all that green at the end of the table brought him home. He
let them roll gently off his hand, just hard enough they bounced off
the wall. Hate a soft shooter, hate that soft seven. Oh, man what are
you thinking. The dice rolled on down banking off the wall, everyone
cheared, there it was four by four, hard 8, the dice started to
settle. Oh, man let me see the next roll, I can double my money, 3200
on the table, it can be 6400 the next roll, Two more rolls and man
10K, what a way to go home. The dice finally settled, a drunk tripped
and hit the table. just a little but it was enough, the four turned to
three and it rolled out a seven. SEVEN. A cry went up and they all
turned away. A few started to swear, I knew he was loser. damn him.
What the hell, and more they said. The dealers were fast, the wiped
the table clean, grabbing up those chips all piled up, no 8, just
seven. he stood there with 35.00 and change. Oh, man, it's gone. The
thought of owing rent, making excuses to man he hated to pay, oh, man
I forgot to call in yesterday, it's three hours to 8, I won't be in
today. too far to drive, need to sleep. Oh, man, there's enough canned
food to cover us till next payday. how about gas to get home. The
crowd was gone and he stepped back, new faces gathered around and
shouted at the next shooter. come on seven eleven. Dealer yelling,
after seven comes eleven.


Oh, what have done. I could've cashed in and walked away. Just once I
wanted to win, to be the hero, come home a winner. What is wrong with
me, nothing. It just goes that way, next time you will get them. Wait,
I don't own anything on the car, maybe I could pawn the title, for
cool thou and make it back and take care of it tomorrow. Yeah wait,
just a day and go home a winner. He smiled wanely and walked out into
the early light of dawn, wanting to hide from the day looking for
night, a place to crash. When I wake up, I'll call in, yeah I just
need one good roll, just one more time and that's it.


Tell me, placing four and ten pays off two to one, but then there are
six ways to roll a seven, it is chasing the dragon and you can lose
more than just a life.