after some discussion, johnny and mary decided to hold up a casino.
joe was down to his last few dollars of savings, because he decided to go along with johnny and mary for at least another day, because they had been nice enough to let him sleep on their couch.
the casino was on the other side of town.
they took the bus. the only other person on the bus besides the driver was an old man reading the bible, who did not look up at joe, johnny, and mary.
the old man’s lips moved as he read the bible. joe thought he looked kind of familiar, not like someone he had ever actually known, but like some actor he had seen on tv.
when they got to the casino, night had completely fallen, and the street was dark.
joe was not exactly disappointed, but a little surprised at how small and shabby the “casino” was.
from the outside, it looked something like a laundromat. through the thick glass windows, he could see men and a few women sitting around round tables. many of the men wore hats.
a barely readable sign in the window said - poker - pan - pai gow- california blackjack.
joe had heard of poker and blackjack. he did not know what “california blackjack” was and had never heard of pan or pai gow,
“what a dump,” said mary. “you sure this is the right place?”
“it’s the right address,” said johnny. “i heard it was not too flashy. but i wasn’t expecting it to be quite like this.”
“it looks like mostly poker,” said mary.
“we’re here, we might as well check it out, “ said johnny. he looked at joe. “you know how to play poker?”
“um - i’m not sure.”
“what do you know about poker?”
“i know a royal flush is the best hand.”
“you need to know a little more than that. i will check the place out, you two wait here.”
“it’s cold out!” mary protested.
“there was a little dunkin donuts back at the bus stop. you can wait for me there.”
“all right.”
joe and mary watched johnny enter the “casino”. then they went around the corner and headed for the dunkin donuts.
they passed a dark doorway with a hulking figure standing in it. joe thought it looked like magnus but the figure did not call to him and they passed it by.
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