Winner Takes All is a 6,200 word story.
Excerpt:
"Sorry is all you have to say? Vance, you owe me almost $6,000. You didn't have to play that last hand. Wait a minute! I've got an idea. Larry, you and Joe shuffle this deck. Vance, I'm going to give you a chance to get your money back. After they shuffle the deck, we'll pick one card. Winner will take all."
"But I told you....." began Vance.
"I know, you can't cover the bet. But, you can. Here's the deal. If you win, I'll make you a check out for the complete $10,000. Larry and Joe, here's your checks back. You don't owe me anything. This is between our chiseling friend and me. Now, if I win, I get 4 hours with your wife and you won't owe me any money."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Vance.
"Just what I said, you get $10, 000 or I get 4 hours with Karen. Is it a deal?"
Vance looked at his friends and then at the chips. $10,000 was a lot of money and he could walk away the big winner. Then again...If he lost, what would he tell Karen? Vance continued thinking. Even if he lost, he could put off Rod for a long time. "Ok, it's a deal."
The deck was put on the table. Vance got first draw and it was the Queen of Hearts. Vance turned his card up and said, "Ok big shot beat that."
Rod slowly reached for the cards. The top card seemed to jump into his palm. When Rod turned the card over, he was holding the Ace of Spades. "Ok hot shot, got any more smart remarks?"
"Well, I guess that settles it. I'll talk to Karen tonight and see when we can make arrangements." said Vance. "Joe, Larry, would you do me a favor? Take Vance out for about 4 hours. I have some business with a beautiful woman."
"Wait a minute Rod, I said I'd talk to her and make arrangements."
"Nope, can't wait that long. I've returned all bets except this one. Vance, you tried to welsh on a bet and you know all bets are payable on demand. And I'm demanding this payment right now."
Excerpt:
"Sorry is all you have to say? Vance, you owe me almost $6,000. You didn't have to play that last hand. Wait a minute! I've got an idea. Larry, you and Joe shuffle this deck. Vance, I'm going to give you a chance to get your money back. After they shuffle the deck, we'll pick one card. Winner will take all."
"But I told you....." began Vance.
"I know, you can't cover the bet. But, you can. Here's the deal. If you win, I'll make you a check out for the complete $10,000. Larry and Joe, here's your checks back. You don't owe me anything. This is between our chiseling friend and me. Now, if I win, I get 4 hours with your wife and you won't owe me any money."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Vance.
"Just what I said, you get $10, 000 or I get 4 hours with Karen. Is it a deal?"
Vance looked at his friends and then at the chips. $10,000 was a lot of money and he could walk away the big winner. Then again...If he lost, what would he tell Karen? Vance continued thinking. Even if he lost, he could put off Rod for a long time. "Ok, it's a deal."
The deck was put on the table. Vance got first draw and it was the Queen of Hearts. Vance turned his card up and said, "Ok big shot beat that."
Rod slowly reached for the cards. The top card seemed to jump into his palm. When Rod turned the card over, he was holding the Ace of Spades. "Ok hot shot, got any more smart remarks?"
"Well, I guess that settles it. I'll talk to Karen tonight and see when we can make arrangements." said Vance. "Joe, Larry, would you do me a favor? Take Vance out for about 4 hours. I have some business with a beautiful woman."
"Wait a minute Rod, I said I'd talk to her and make arrangements."
"Nope, can't wait that long. I've returned all bets except this one. Vance, you tried to welsh on a bet and you know all bets are payable on demand. And I'm demanding this payment right now."
