Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: River (08/31/06)
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TITLE: King on the River | Previous Challenge Entry
By Callie Martin
09/04/06 -
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Jack has been sitting at this poker table for seven hours. He loves a casino; no matter what’s going on in your life, you leave it outside the doors of a casino.
“Hey Jack, I’ve been looking for you.” His younger brother, Ethan slides into the chair next to him. Well, sometimes things come in through those doors.
“What is it, Ethan? I thought we had argued this thing to death.” Catching himself, he whispers, “Sorry man, poor choice of words.”
“She just wants to see you, Jack. It’s not about you, it’s about her.”
“I can’t. I can’t handle it. I can’t watch her die, Ethan.”
“She’s your mother, Jack. You need to be there for her. You can’t keep running away from your problems by hiding in this casino every night.”
“Can’t do it, Bro, I’m not like you. You’re the good son; I’m a loser except in this casino.”
Seeing Ethan’s face, Jack wishes he could be a better brother.
“I’ll play you for it.”
“What”?
“I’ll play you one hand of poker. If I win, you leave with me right now.
“You can’t play poker.
“Don’t worry about me. Is it a deal”?
“What if I win”?
“Well, you don’t have to be at the hospital. You can hide here and I’ll leave you alone. What more could you want”?
“You’re serious? You can’t beat me at Texas Hold’em.”
“Deal”?
“Okay, deal him in. One hand, I win, you go away. You win, we leave together.”
The dealer barely glances up and deals silently, as always. Jack gets a 10 of diamonds and a Jack of diamonds. Not too bad. He can’t tell anything from Ethan’s face.
“I’ll raise,” Jack says a little too loudly.
“Call.”
“Good job little brother; I didn’t even know you knew what to do.”
“I didn’t spend every minute in class during college either, Jack. Let’s see the flop.”
The dealer deals the three cards; Queen of hearts, Jack of spades, and eight of diamonds.
Feeling cocky with his two Jacks, he raises.
Ethan calls, and the dealer deals the turn card – the four of clubs.
Ethan studies his cards and looks up at his brother for a moment.
“I’m all in.”
“You’re what? Do you even know what that means”?
“Call me or fold, Jack.”
“I’ll call, but you’re an idiot.”
They lay their cards out on the table. Jack has a better hand, two Jacks. Ethan has a King of hearts and a six of hearts – nothing.
“Well, little brother, I think you’ll be driving back to Henderson by yourself tonight.”
“Jack, I’ve tried everything to reason with you. This is my last chance. How about we up the ante”?
“What are you talking about”?
“If I can tell you what the last card will be, I win.”
“Win what”?
“If I’m right, you come to church with me for one month.”
“You’re crazy, man.”
“Then take the bet.”
“How can you be so sure”?
“Because I have faith and I believe that God can do anything he wants. If he wants you to be with mom and go to church with me, there will be a King on the River. If there’s not, then he doesn’t, and you win. I believe there will be a King – my King – on the River.”
Jack feels a little shaky but he nods, first to Ethan, and then to the dealer.
The dealer turns the card over and Jack can’t believe his eyes. He looks up at the dealer and then back down to the card several times. It’s a King on the River.
“How’d you do that”?
“I didn’t, big brother. God did and he’s made his decision about you. He wants you, and my experience is you can run, but you can’t hide. God will meet you where you are and this is where you always are. You’re his, man, might as well start getting used to it.”
Jack reaches over to touch the card. The dealer says, “Playing again, boys”?
Swallowing hard, Jack picks up his chips and says over his shoulder, “No, we’re leaving. We have to get back to the hospital.”
As they walk out, Ethan says, “Hey Jack, did you know that chancing the game on the river card is called “living by the river” because of the dangers involved. How cool is that”?
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