Note to reader: All characters are 18 years of age or older, even if not specifically stated in the text.
Nancy's husband of the last 14 years looked worried. Ned had been working longer and longer hours and been increasingly stressed. He wouldn't share with her details about what was going on at work other than it being important. Nancy did everything she could to help. Cooking great meals, helping him around the house, and of course offering all the love she could give. Physically and emotionally.
Nancy was a stay-at-home wife. Ned and her never considered kids. In fact, he had gotten a vasectomy a couple of years ago just to eliminate any risks. With her free time, besides keeping the house and gardens looking great, she spent a lot of time in the community. Helping out with charity work and participating in get togethers with friends. Ned's work often had social events such as holiday parties, picnics and family days. Nancy had gotten to know almost everyone he works with well. They were almost like an extended family to her. Most of Ned's best friendships were with people he worked with.
That is why seeing him worry about work worried her so much. Losing this job would be like losing family, for both of them. Giving him space hadn't yielded much benefit, so Nancy tried to approach things more directly.
"Ned, I'm sorry if you rather not talk about it, but I am so worried about you. What at work has you so stressed? You can tell me anything."
Ned gave her a smile. "I know I can. And I'm sorry I've been distant lately. There's just been a lot of pressure on me lately. It will be okay."
Nancy could tell he was trying to keep her at arm's length in regards to this, but she didn't agree with that.
"Honey, there has to be something I can do to help. I'm not a sales person like you, but I'm known throughout the community. Maybe I can help find new leads. Something."
Ned was looking downwards and not at her. "No, that's just not how the company functions. But I appreciate you being so passionate to help me."
He paused as if he was hesitant to bring something up. "There is something. It's not related to sales or the business exactly."
Nancy sat down next to him and put her arm around him. "Tell me. I really want to help. If nothing else it would make me feel better."
"There's an event after work. They are really desperate for a volunteer. It's not something I would ever ask you to do, but my boss is pushing me to find someone. I'm worried if I don't..."
Nancy spoke up before he had to say anything else. "I'll do it. Whatever it is, I'll do it. Don't even worry about it."
Nancy thought about how this is likely a job involving cleaning out something incredibly dirty or some other type of job that nobody else would ever volunteer to do. She wasn't afraid of working hard.
Ned finally looked up at her, "Are you sure? This isn't something you've ever done before. Don't you..."
Nancy put a finger over his mouth. "I'm not afraid. I'll do the job better than anyone else ever could."
Ned gave her a hug saying, "Thank you. You don't know what this means to me, my job, our marriage, everything." He took a deep breath in relief. "Okay, give Jerry a call, he can give you the details."
Jerry was a co-worker of his and someone he considered his best friend. He's often over at our house to watch sports with Ned and other guy stuff. She greatly liked him too and always wished he would settle down so they could do double dates and stuff.
Ned took Nancy by the hands and took a serious tone. "You need to realize though that if you are going to volunteer for his, you need to commit. Volunteering and then doing a poor job or backing out later would be far worse than if you simply said you didn't want to right now. This is very important to my boss if you can understand that."
Nancy was taken aback by the sudden seriousness her husband was emphasizing. Was Ned's job on the line? If this volunteering work went poorly would she get her husband fired? She was starting to wonder more about the nature of this work, but felt too intimidated to ask more about it now. Besides, her husband seemed so relieved when she agreed to it earlier. She couldn't put that stress back on him now.
"I understand fully honey. I won't fail."
Again her husband hugged her. "Jerry will explain it more. Call him tomorrow morning. Just remember to follow his directions fully. I won't be at the event, so just rely on him."
As instructed she called her husband's co-worker and best friend Jerry the next morning.
"Good morning Jerry, this is Nancy."
"Hello Nancy! I just finished that pie you gave me yesterday. I tried to make it last as long as possible but two days after you gave it to me, it was gone!"
"Haha! Well I take it then you liked it. Hey, listen. I talked to Ned last night and was informed that a volunteer is needed for an upcoming event. After talking it through, I am going to help out and be that volunteer. He told me you could give me more information."
Jerry was silent on the other side on the line for a bit. "Hello?" Nancy finally said in response to the silence.
"For... the event tonight? I had heard that the boss had asked Ned if he knew of anybody, I never imagine he would ask you. You know what this is right?"
She could sense Jerry didn't want me doing this work. He was always so over protective of her. One week Ned was out of town and he insisted he mow the lawn for her. Nancy didn't want to get into an argument and have to convince another man to let her help.
"I said Ned and I talked about it and I want to help. Please let me do this Jerry. Don't tell him or anyone I said this, but I think he is worried for his job and this could help."
He was quiet again before responding. "Our boss will certainly be agreeable to you doing this. I never thought you would do this Nancy, but if Ned is okay with it, fine. I'll text you the address. Be there at 7 pm. Wear a nice dress." With that the conversation ended.
Nancy was surprised to hear that she needed to wear a dress. It wasn't that she didn't like wearing dresses. She wore them all the time. But this told her that the work wasn't going to involve cleaning up a filthy area or hard work like that. The rest of the day she tried to think what kind of work would require her to dress nicely but still be so hard to find volunteers for. She never came up with a good explanation before it was time to leave.
She chose to wear a white dress with short sleeves and a skirt that went just below the knees. It wasn't anything too fancy but a step up over a simple sundress. She put on some red lipstick to give her face a pop of color along with the standard eye shadow she typically wears. Nancy left the house before Ned came home from work. It wasn't unusual lately for him not to be home yet given his work hours lately. She arrived at the address and saw Jerry waiting outside. The location seemed to be a rather fancy residential home. She had never been here before.
Jerry approached her as she walked up, "Nancy, you look great tonight. Are you ready?"
"I am." Nancy wasn't sure what she was ready for. But during the drive over she felt the weight of what she was doing. Ned losing his job would be devastating. With the exception of her, everything in his life was derived from his job. Losing that job would lead to some very dark times for her husband.
He led her into the house and into a small side room. There was a young girl already there. She looked to be somewhere between 18 to 20 years old. She was very pretty and wearing a nice red dress in a style that Nancy often saw younger people wearing. Not knowing what else to do, Nancy walked up and introduced herself. The girl, named Jill, was friendly but rather nervous looking.
After some small talk, Jerry spoke up. "Ladies. Thank you both for being here tonight. While you know in general what is happening, I want to clear about the rules. Please listen carefully."
Rules? Nancy had been given yet another detail that confused her.
Jerry continued. "Myself and five others have split into 2 teams of three people. Each of you have been assigned to one of those teams. During the game, you will be responsible for bringing any drinks to your team that are requested."
Nancy finally understood now what she was doing. Her husband Ned use to attend a poker game with Jerry and others at work a few years back. He stopped going as he said the stakes were getting too high. They needed pretty girls to serve drinks and help give the feeling of a fancy casino.
"We will be playing 3 card Texas Hold'em. It doesn't matter to you, but just so you can better follow the game, each team will start a game by being dealt 2 cards that they will keep hidden to themselves. Bets using money will then be placed. Each game only one person from each team will be playing. However all of the team's money is pooled together. Thus that individual is risking the money of the whole teams. From there the dealer will reveal a single card placed on the table for all to see. The team will then make another monetary bet, followed by a 2nd card getting revealed and another bet with money. Finally, the 3rd and last card will be revealed. Teams have two options here."