Alice 1 Read Free

I
want.
    Maybe you can explain.
    The manager apologized big time, gave a comp to
a show, three meal tickets, and a 100-dollar chip. My gratefulness
assured him I wasn’t going to sue.
    “You just let me know anytime you’re in town and
we’ll see what we can do for you. Here’s my card.”
    “Thank you, Sir. You are a very nice man,” and
gave him a thrill as I brushed past his lips on my way to a tiny
kiss on his cheek. Can you believe it, he blushed. You males are so
simple.
    My new family was not so pleased, but I’m pretty
sure Skinny Santa was amused. I understand. We want to fade into
the crowd and almost causing a riot is not good. They were ahead
about two grand and after lunch we went across the street to
Harrah’s to practice some more.
    “Just watch and be cool. Ok? Please.”
    “Not to worry. I’m cool.”
    A guy at the door checked my ID. No problem. The
same bright lights, wild noise, and crowds of people.
    Went to the cashier, got two rolls of quarters
and change for my 100-dollar chip, and began my gambling career.
You put a quarter in the little slot. You pull the handle. Three
wheels whirl around and around and stop, one after the other. You
win or you lose. You put a quarter in the little slot. You pull the
handle. Oh my God, such mindlessness. What could go wrong?
    A little old lady in tennis shoes was playing
the slot next to mine. Nope, I didn’t make that up. She’s wearing
ugly, green tennis shoes and they’ve seen plenty of miles. Probably
blows her pension check on slots.
    I asked if I could watch, “I’m all new to this
gambling stuff.” Sure, she’s a little lonely.
    I was right. As soon as she gets her monthly
check she jumps on Harrah’s free bus from Oakland. Casinos are so
kindly, so generous.
    Wonder if I can help her out. The third wheel
slows down and hesitates just before it comes to a stop. Yeah, I
can help. After the second wheel stops I’ll know if there’s a
chance for a payoff. Like if the first two are plums, I’ll wait for
the third wheel to slow down. If there’s a plum nearby my Shadow
hands can speed up or slow down the wheel for a nice payoff.
    Worked great and she even got a $200. jackpot,
but then I caught gambler’s fever. We were flying high, screeching
it up with the best of them, and when I saw a chance for a second
jackpot I took it. Unfortunately the third jackpot bar was too far
from where it would normally stop, and I had to push too hard.
Alarms went off and people came running.
    The technician looked very puzzled when he
opened the front of the machine, “never saw that before.” The third
wheel was smoking. Oh well, she did real good and the third wheel
stopped at the jackpot bar so they had to pay her another $200. She
was so happy.
    My new family was not so happy. They were
seriously concerned I didn’t know the definition of the word cool.
Ok, ok, I deserve a little sarcasm and vowed to be good. After a
while everybody was cool, and we had dinner at a great, little
place just west of Sacramento.
     

CHAPTER 4
    The next morning Molly, Linda and I went out to
the veranda with our tea and coffee, and watched waves crash
against the rocks, and seagulls swirl and squawk.
    I never had any female friends. The girls in
those foster homes were stupid, wacked out and a pain in the ass.
And that description fits me pretty good, except for stupid. I have
many, many faults, but stupid isn’t one of them. Humility isn’t up
there either.
    Now maybe I’ll get some girl talk.
    Yes, there really is girl talk! Santa’s been
kind of weird lately. He’s friendly and helpful but holding
something back, like he has a big secret. Johnny’s an open book and
usually a nice guy, but a little macho. They were a pain when we
were young. Now so easy. Males are not too bright, not even a
psychologist like Johnny.
    I pointed out Linda’s awful lipstick and Molly
laughed. “Yeah I told her, but Linda’s stubborn as hell. Let’s grab
her, wipe that crap off,