Big Win and Big Loss

21 March 2023

By Frank Scoblete

She loves playing the slot machines, and she and her girlfriend Wendy would go to the casinos once a month for a weekend stay. They played; they took in the shows and they had delicious meals. What could be better?

They are not rich by any stretch of the imagination but now being in their early 40’s both own their own homes and have stable jobs. Both were married before they were 21 and now both are divorced. Neither has children.

They are best friends and have been such for two decades.

Her name is Susan.

And it all came tumbling down. Here’s her story.

“I was playing my favorite machine at my favorite casino. The first night, a Friday, was a loser but I cut my losses short by stopping early and going to my room to bed. Wendy played but she also went to her room early as well.

“The next day, Saturday, my wins and losses went back and forth. I hit some decent hits but I also had some long stretches of losses. I guess you could say that the game was par for the course. I was down a little.

“We saw a wonderful show that night and had a great dinner. We played our machines after dinner. Her favorite machine is on the other side of the casino from mine so we only know how the other had done when we meet and exchange information.

“I was getting tired and I was ready for sleep and then my machine hit the big jackpot. I’m talking loud music and the jingle-jangle sound of the fake coins. The machine I play does not have real coins. I don’t think there are any real coin machines any more, at least none that I play..

“Aside from being tired, I was actually numb. The jackpot was for over $200,000! The attendant came over and I guess set the machine so it couldn’t be played and the slot manager came over and congratulated me on my win. He told me the steps that had to be taken before they would give me my check.

“It took about an hour. I totally forgot about Wendy. I had my check. They took out the taxes for the government. How did the government become my partner? Do they lose money when I lose money? That never happened over the years.

“When I went back onto the floor, I went over to Wendy’s machine. She was playing listlessly. She saw me. ‘I’m getting killed,’ she said.

“I handed her my check. ‘What is this, a coupon?’ she asked. I shook my head. “Read it,’ I said. She looked at it. She looked back at me. She looked at it again. She looked back at me. ‘Is this real?’ she asked. I nodded my head. ‘Oh, my lord,’ she said. ‘Oh, my lord!’

[Next week: The Good Comes Before the Bad.]

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete’s web site is www.frankscoblete.com. His books are available from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Kindle, e-books, libraries and at bookstores.