Copyright ©2017 by Creole Gaudet. All rights reserved.
No part of this episode may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system – except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper – without permission in writing from the publisher, Creole Gaudet.
“My humble apologies, Dillon. I am so sorry.”
“Oh no, please don’t get upset.”
“I know you must hate me.”
“No, not at all. I realize it was a mistake.”
Camilla scrambled, shuffling through her purse. “I swear I would never steal anything from anyone.” She places the hundred into his palm as she pans the room. “I wasn’t raised that way… I don’t have to steal.”
“Relax, please. I believe you. I do.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m sure. I know you didn’t mean to, okay? Forget about it.”
Camilla takes a long look. “Who are you? You look like some kind of… What do you do?”
“I play in a band.”
“I somehow knew that.”
“That I played in a band?”
“Or you were an actor or something. Something to do with the arts. You just have that artist look. That big wavy pompadour and the slick sideburns. Your skinny jeans with the flared bottoms and your boots. The cool retro Jimi Hendrix tee…. And your teeth are perfect too. Did you ever have braces?”
“No.”
“So, you’re just naturally cute…and sexy.”
“I guess so.”
“And you’re kind of shy too.”
“I’m not shy.”
“Yes, you are. I bet that if I didn’t owe you that hundred, you would have never come over and talked to me.”
“You don’t know that.”
“You’re a shy boy, Dillon.”
“I’m not!”
“Yes, you are. Look at how you’re blushing.”
“Wow, so you’re psychoanalyzing me. You’ve got me all figured out.”
“Big word alert. He’s intelligent, too.”
“You’re funny. I hope that all this is a good thing.”
“It is, Dillon. It is. So many guys approach and are so lame. I get the ghetto hood game. The guys who think that proclaiming how beautiful they think I am will somehow, magically win me over.”
“You are beautiful, though.”
“Thank you. And thank you for not starting with that. Then there are the ones who will flat out offer me money to sleep with them like I’m some kind of working girl or courtesan.”
“What’s a courtesan?”
“And you’re naive too. I’m really beginning to like you, Dillon. Do you have a girlfriend? Are you married?”
“No and no.”
“Oh, no…please tell me you’re not gay.”
“Fuck no!”
Camilla is filled with mirth. “You know, you can tell me. It’s okay.”
“No. I’m not gay, alright?”
“So, you like the pussy?”
“Yes, only the pussy!”
“Good to know!” She slaps the play button. The three reels come to a stop. It’s double diamonds across the pay line. “Yes! I knew it!”
Dillon looks at the display. “Did you win?”
“Twenty-five thousand!” All eyes were now on Camilla.
“Are you serious?!”
“Time to cash out.” She stands, removing her ticket. “Come on.”
As the two approach, Crystal awaits with a broad smile. “I’m so happy for you…”
“Cash me out.”
“Okay, no problem.”
Camilla watched with a close eye as Crystal returned from the storeroom with five stacks of pre-sorted cash.”I had to go into the safe to get all of this… You really did well…”
Camilla turns to Dillon as she counts her winnings. “I’m not sure if all this will fit into my purse.” She parts off five thousand. “Here.” She reaches it towards Dillon. “I would have lost the machine if not for you.”
“For me? I couldn’t accept that.”
“Why not?”
“Nah, it’s your money.”
“I wouldn’t have won it without you coming to my rescue.”
Crystal cuts in. “Can I get you anything to drink? Would you like something to eat? We have…”
Camilla tugs at Dillon’s front pocket. He backs two steps. “You’re going to take this money or what?”
“Nope.”
“Why, Dillon? Why won’t you take it?”
“I wouldn’t feel right. I wouldn’t.”
“Unbelievable… Okay… I guess I’ll just have to spend it all on myself.”
Crystal’s temples were beaded with sweat. She leaned in, lowering her pitch. “How about me? I’ll take it.”
Camilla turned to her, glaring fiercely. “It’s Crystal, right?”
“Yes. Crystal. That’s me.”
“You’re expecting a tip?”
“That would be nice.”
“I’m usually very generous, Crystal. Usually. As a matter of fact, this would have been your tip. I would have given you the whole five. But, I’m not. You get nothing from me.”
Crystal’s face morphed into a scowl. “Are you serious?! You know, it’s customary to tip the bartender when you win! That’s how it goes!”
“It’s also customary to give change when a player needs it too!”
“I didn’t have twenties!”
“You just sat a thousand in twenties in front of me, Crystal!”
“But I didn’t know I had that!”
“It’s your job to know or to go and check at least! But instead, you decided to be rude and embarrass me in front of this whole bar in front of all these people.”
Crystal began to sob. “You don’t know how hard this job is and what I go through. I have to deal with all kinds of people. You don’t know my life!”
“And guess what. I don’t care either.”
“You’re attacking me! You’re being mean to me!”
Camilla takes Dillon’s hand into hers, clutching their fingers together. “Let’s go. This bitch is crazy!”
Creole Gaudet
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