circle of money.
small portraits of a stoic Benjamin eyeing us suspiciously.
 
I check my hole cards again: a black six & his red brother.
not powerful, but comfortable.
 
the flop comes up a shocking 6-7-8, all diamonds. cautious bets
are made; if someone holds the flush, he doesn’t want to frighten
the fish. the turn reveals the Queen of Spades: Black Mariah. again,
we deposit our perilous wagers upon the green felt.
 
on the river, floating like a dream, is the fourth six. my book is not
unbeatable, but the odds be damned! I’m here to gamble. ‘All in,’
I say, & the small words echo. ‘All in’ says Duffy, & Harpe repeats,
‘All in.’ then Heavenlee Blaze, the only lady at our table, smiles &
says, ‘All in, boys.’
 
I show my sixes, & Duffy shouts ‘no good!’ he slaps the 4-5 of diamonds
on the table, the low end of the straight flush. Harpe drops his twin
snowmen; his full house is pitiful.
 
Heavenlee lays down the diamond nine, as the men glare at her. she then
turns up the miraculous ten of diamonds, topping Duffy’s straight flush!
 
Duffy is enraged. from his elegant sleeve falls a derringer, a farewell gift for
the lucky lady. she draws a knife from her hip, & flings it at the coward. it
sticks, dead center of Duffy’s chest. Harpe curses & draws his pistol. from
out nowhere, the fatale caresses a dagger, & she slices it deftly across
Harpe’s throat. blood spurts & bubbles from the gash, & he topples like a
rotted oak.
 
Heavenlee grabs the pistol, aiming it at my spellbound heart. I raise my
hands, palms outward. ‘take the pot,’ I say. ‘you won it, fair & square.’
steady as a rock. I add, ‘shoot me if you must. I will die smiling.’
 
Heavenlee smiles her gleaming snowflake smile. she pushes the stack
of century-notes into her bag. she turns, & like a living waterfall, she
sashays toward the rising sun, & away from me…
 
…forever.