Even Money

[couchgrouch]

Even MoneyJoe stepped off a Greyhound, 'round midnight in Renolooked some dealers over, shopping tables at casinosstuck with an off-main joint called the Joker's Wildwhere a redhead workin' girl flashed him a neon smileas he bought chips and checked his backpackJoe couldn't be a salesman or a nine-to-fivercos those folks're living but they're not survivorshe passed the dime slots and drunk dentists shooting dicethey tempted him but he focused his own snake eyeson two hours of blackjackit was like the house was bein' robbedcos to him the steepest odds were even moneywell, that redhead saw Joe had raked himself a bundlethought like most he'd refuse once and then crumbleup in the high-roller's suite Joe payed two hundred bucksthen just talked of fortune n fate and what run of luckmade her a sportin' ladya hidden cam'ra caught her after weeks of cheatingpit boss said pay it back hookin' or take a beatingwell, Joe kissed her gently then swore he'd be backtook his winnings downstairs for one more hour of jackshe needed fifty grand but he won eightyhe paid that poor woman's debtcos for him any bet was even moneythe pit boss sacked the dealer, said to never come backJoe gave him a ticket to Vegas, from his old backpackwhen that lost soul heard Joe's knock, she knew she'd been redeemedcos a man of his word is worth more than anythingeven money...even money(c)2006 Robert George