It was dusk when Ray heard the doorbell ring and he flicked on the hall lights for the daylight was gradually fading.
'Coming Goddammit,' he yelled as the doorbell rang a second time.
He swung open the door scowling at his two friends Lawrence and Hugh who grinned amiably back at him. 'Didn't you see me switch on the hall light?'
'Didn't you hear the bell?' Lawrence quipped.
'I suppose you both better come in,' Ray said gruffly.
Grinning at Ray's truculent welcome his two friends bustled inside following Ray into his living room.
The poker table was ready and occupied the centre of the room, three chairs placed around it, glasses and a deck of cards on the table.
Lawrence, like Ray, was a big man, years of good living had made their mark and his girth if anything exceeded Ray's. Time though had been kinder on top as he retained his thick head of hair, though it was now completely silver, its lustrous chestnut brown long consigned to the past. Hugh, was the polar opposite in looks to his two friends, his frame was lean, his skin tanned and bronzed. He was completely bald and wore round wire frame glasses that gave him an impression a hawkish college lecturer. Lawrence and Hugh, pulled up their chairs sitting down at the poker table. To their amusement Ray sat down too. Lawrence raised an eyebrow in mock disapproval. 'Aren't you going to offer us a drink, Ray?'
'He's broke after last time, when we cleaned him out,' Hugh laughed. 'Maybe tonight we should let win a few hands then, next time we come he'll be able to buy some drinks.'
Lawrence pursed his lips. 'That it Ray? You too poor to buy your pals a drink? Maybe we should play with matchsticks instead of money tonight, what do you say?'
Ray, failing to suppress a smile at his friends joshing, gave a small shake of the heads. 'Boys, I didn't offer you a drink, because unlike you two cheapskates I have employed a young lady to act as waitress tonight.'
Lawrence gave a grunt of disbelief, folding his thick arms for effect. Hugh looked around the room in an exaggerated manner, a broad grin on his face. 'And where is this ravishing maid servant, she's not invisible is she?'
'Or make pretend, Ray,' Hugh chimed in. 'That's it, you finally lost your marbles. I knew you'd be the first to go gaga of the three of us.'
Ray, in response to their sceptical remarks reached into his trouser pocket and produced a small silver bell, that he placed carefully on the green felt of the poker table as though like a magician he had produced some wondrous feat.
His friends' eyes alighted on the small bell.
'What's that for?' Hugh asked.
'This, you two uncultured Bolsheviks is what civilised gentry folk like myself use to call for service.'
'Let's see if it works,' Lawrence scoffed, lifting the bell and giving it a ring.
A soft female voice from the doorway drew Lawrence and Hugh's attention. 'Gentlemen, may I offer you a drink?'
Ray grinned, savouring his friends' surprised expressions, for there stood his granddaughter, Shelly, holding a tray with three chilled bottles of beer on it. She still wore her blue denim cut offs, with a loose fitting low cut t-shirt that clung to her ample bra free breasts. Her feet were bare after her grandfather had told her he found young ladies going barefoot turned him on.
Shelly, smiling with anticipation at the evening ahead, placed the tray on the table not taking too much care to conceal her cleavage as she bent to serve the beers.
'Young Shelly isn't it?' Lawrence said, pleased he had recognised her and now understanding how his friend had procured such a sexy young helper.
'That's right,' Shelly said. 'I used to see you sometimes when I came over with my mum and dad.'
Lawrence shook his head, 'You've certainly grown since I last saw you.'
'And not just upwards,' Shelly teased, noticing his appreciable glance at her prominent breasts.
'Quite a firecracker ain't she?' Hugh observed.
'She's that all right,' Ray agreed with a smile.
'Now boys, shall we get down to business? Shelly dear, would you be so kind as to cut and deal the cards.'
'Yes, grandpa' Shelly said obediently. She took the deck, expertly shuffling it then offered the deck for both Lawrence and Hugh to cut. 'Five card straight?'
'That's right, darling,' Ray confirmed, pleased she'd taken on board what he'd taught her earlier, even if she kept distracting them both with her sexual proclivity.
Shelly dealt three hands, while each of the players produced from their pockets their respective stakes for the evening. Each player had a small pile of coins and notes, though Ray attracted the curious attention of his two friends for along with his money he placed a number of small folded pieces of white paper.
'What're those?' Lawrence asked gruffly. 'IOUs?' he gave Hugh a sardonic grin.
'These?' Ray smiled, 'These are part of my stake. If I have a good hand I put one of these instead of cash. You win the hand you get some attention from young Shelly here.'
'You mean she tops up our drinks?' Lawrence said sceptically.