King, Jack. Dealer has a six showing. Gravy. I'm back in the game. I sweep my hand over my cards. The dealer flips her hole card, and there lies a queen. She has to hit, and she's going to bust. Money in the bank. Dealer takes her hit and pulls a five. "Twenty-one" the dealer announces, as if to rub salt into the wound.
I was totally cleaned out, but felt dirty at the same time. Standing up from the table at Caesar's Palace, I started contemplating my fate. I had told my girlfriend, Michelle that I was going out for the day to play golf to be followed by a poker game that night with the guys. What I had really done is sped over to Las Vegas with a $2500 stake and a chance to make my fortune.
Michelle and I had been dating for three years. We were high school sweethearts, and I fell in love with her when I saw her play Emily in Thornton Wilder's Our Town. We went to the Junior Prom together and have been together ever since. Memories linger of us together on the dance floor at the Prom. My arms were around her waist, and hers around by shoulders, holding each other tight as we danced. I would stare into her deep brown eyes, and kiss her deeply. She would rest her head against my chest, so that she could feel my heartbeat. I would kiss her on the forehead, and smell her long, brown hair. When I think of that night, I can still smell her essence and feel her head on my chest.
We had been together for a year, and our Senior Prom awaited us. I rented my tuxedo, and she was in her gown, and we went to the dance. After the dance, most of our friends were going to a party sponsored by someone's parents. We skipped the part, and headed out to Michelle's parents' lake house. There, we held each other close, and softly kissed. I helped her out of her gown, and she stood before me in a strapless white lace bra, white thong underwear, and a garter belt, which was holding up white thigh high stockings. I took off my cummerbund, bowtie, shirt, and pants. Michelle turned out the light, and I could only see her silhouette in the moonlight. She took off her bra and her underwear, and I took off my boxer shorts. We hugged, and started kissing again. Guiding me to the bed, we lay down, and touched each other all over. It was the first time for both of us, and the nervousness started to take over. Reaching into the nightstand, Michelle produced a condom.
She removed it from the wrapper and rolled it onto my penis. I could feel her hands shaking as she did this. I told her we didn't have to do this if she didn't want to, but she had every intention of giving me her virginity that night. Straddling my body, she started to lower herself slowly onto my penis. She was very wet and warm, warm enough that I could feel it through the rubber. She asked that we take it slow, as she lowered herself onto me. I was about halfway into her, but I felt I could not go any further. With a sudden jolt downwards, I saw a wince on Michelle's face followed by tears. I asked if she was okay, and she assured me she was fine. With a smile through her tears, she told me that she loved me. The tempo started to build, and she rode my penis. I did not last long. As soon as we reached a fast pace, I could feel an orgasm building inside of me. I grabbed her thighs with my hands to hold her down on top of me, as I sent my load gushing inside of her. I apologized for being so quick, but she told me it would be all right, and we'd have many more chances to do this. She was correct. She is the only girlfriend I have ever had, the only girl to whom I have made love, and the only girl with whom I want to be.
We dated through college, and fell more in love. We had a great sex life, and thankfully Michelle's ob/gyn put her on the pill (that was one of the happiest days of my life). Having both graduated from the University of Minnesota, we moved to Los Angeles from the Twin Cities a year ago. Michelle could give her acting career a chance to grow. She was able to get parts in a few commercials, and small parts in some independent flicks that no one saw. Perhaps I was still seeing Emily on stage, but to me, she was the greatest actress in the world.
Money was tight. Being a struggling actress didn't really pay well. I had my degree in computer science, which I put to work at a local sporting goods store. It turns out that the tech job bonanza didn't last quite as long as some of us thought which left me selling in-line skates in Santa Monica.
Despite the money problems, Michelle and I were committed to each other. She started hinting, and then suggesting, before finally demanding marriage. I am not opposed to marriage, but I didn't really have any money to buy her a decent engagement ring. She deserved more than diamond dust, and I was set on buying it for her. I went to the bank and withdrew the $2500 we had saved for the rent, gassed up the car, and headed across the desert to Vegas.
I had a foolproof strategy. I had heard a customer at the store tell me that he never loses in Vegas. The theory is to sit at a blackjack table and if you lose a hand, you double your next bet. Once you win one hand, you are back to even money. How could I lose? I found out the answer to that question. I won my first two hands at $20 apiece. Then, I lost seven hands in a row. Our savings was now gone.
I got up from the table, not even able to tip the dealer, and it hit me. I had no money. I didn't even have enough money to eat, or for gas for the drive back to L.A. I realized I had my credit card. I could charge my way home. I walked over to an ATM to get a cash advance so I could grab a Big Mac before I left town. I opened my wallet, and I could not find my credit card. I frantically searched through every pocket in my wallet, and it was nowhere to be found. I retraced my steps, and figured the last time I used my card was when I filled up in L.A. I must've left the card at the station.
Now, with no money, no credit, no gas, and a soon-to-be angry girlfriend, I weighed my options. I could hitchhike home. I could call my parents to wire some money to me. Then, I hear, "Andy! Is that you?" I turned to look, and there was Tony, a friendly face from Minnesota. We had known each other since we were in the sixth grade, and he had moved to Minnesota from Fargo when his old man got a job as an engineer at Cenex. We played on the high school hockey team together, he was a defenseman, and I was a center. Tony insisted on buying me a drink, and seeing as how I needed one, I accepted.
We walked over to the bar, and I ordered an Amstel Light and he asked for a gin and tonic. We talked, and he told me that he just finished up at St. Cloud State, and now has a job as a researcher at 3M. He had just gotten married to some girl he met in college, and was building a house outside of Edina. It turns out that he was in Vegas for some boondoggle conference. I started telling him my sad story, how I blew every cent Michelle and I had, and I didn't know what I was going to do. Tony said that he wouldn't let down a friend from back home, and he said that I could spend the night in his room, if need be. He had just checked into the hotel, and was on his way up to his room. I thanked him, and accepted his offer.