Poker Night

Poker Night
By Cindy Lee

The clock was the only noise in the smoke-filled room. The tick tock tick tock sounded like it was getting louder with each minute. There was no movement among those seated at the table.

Big Bart’s large, brown eyes were serious.
“C’mon, Bart, pump it or dump it,” Lucky Louie snorted as he was growing weary. Looking at Bart, then over to Slick Sam, he started drumming his fingers on the table.

“Yeah, Bart, let’s get on with it,” Slick Sam groaned as he laid his hand on the table.
Bart’s eyes darted through the smoky haze from his cards to the faces across the table.
Lucky Louie’s droopy eyes blinked at him in a smart-cracking way, but Bart ignored it.
Finally, Bart looked knowingly from Eugene’s white face to Wise Earl, inclining his head toward Eugene, “he’s cheating.”

Eugene caught his breath. Sweat beaded his glistening forehead. His hands, shaking, gripped the cards, “nnnnnnooww, bbbboys, you know I wouldn’t cheat.” Eugene’s pale face looked instantly guilty.
Eugene had always been a shy man. His skin was pale by nature, almost milky. He had gray eyes and mousy brown hair. He was skinny and had big, black glasses.
Lucky Louie slammed his cards on the table and chewed on his cigar, “what do we do with him? We don’t tolerate cheaters.”

All faces were on Eugene. The trial was over and they had already declared him guilty.
Eugene looked at each face.
Lucky Louie’s big, saggy eyes held no compassion. He picked up the cigar and sucked a big puff as he stared at Eugene. He shook his head, disgusted. His three chins swayed.
“Louie,” Eugene whined.
Lucky Louie held up a hand to stop Eugene.

Eugene looked at Slick Sam. Sam must have been in his early thirties. He looked like a gambler from the old west. He was tall and lanky. He made a clicking noise with his tongue as he looked at Eugene. His ice blue eyes were dead serious, but he did not speak.

Eugene looked at Fingers Freddy. Fingers was a short man of about fifty. He always reminded Eugene of a locksmith. He popped his stubby fingers all the time.
Freddy grunted and turned his head.
Eugene grimaced. He wanted someone to give him some compassion!

He looked at Big Bart. Bart was a burly black man with gray hair that looked like cotton. Bart squinched his eyes at Eugene.

Wise Earl frowned. Earl was the oldest of the crew. Eugene thought he might get a little sympathy from Earl.
Eugene looked at Earl, pleading silently for an ally.
Earl sniffed and looked out the window.
Eugene knew he was in deep water. His gray eyes slowly slid off Wise Earl’s face and moved to the last face….Cool-Hand Luke.

Luke had been silent, listening as the accusation surfaced, then escalated into a full-blown trial.
Luke was a well-built man in his late twenties. He looked at Eugene. He had piercing black eyes.

Luke looked from Eugene to Lucky Louie. Louie nodded to him.
He then looked from Louie to Slick Sam. Sam inclined his head.
Eugene gulped.
Luke looked at Fingers Freddy. Freddy popped his fingers and raised an eyebrow.
Luke looked at Big Bart. Bart grunted and Eugene sucked in his breath.
Finally, Luke looked at Wise Earl. Earl pointed his finger toward Eugene.
Eugene slid down in his chair.

“Looks like it’s unanimous, boy. You’ve been branded a cheater. The thing that remains for us to do is….” Luke looked to each face.
Not a muscle twitched, not an eyebrow lifted….nothing.
Eugene looked slowly at each face in a last attempt for mercy….nothing.

Eugene slid lower in the chair. He hadn’t meant to cheat. He didn’t even think they’d know if he slipped one little card in……He certainly never figured Big Bart would be so observant to catch him switching the cards.

Luke whacked the table with his fist.
Eugene jumped up like he’d been shot, “please guys….I ...I…” He looked again at each face. His eyes begged for leniency.
Lucky Louie cleared his throat. This made his chins sway again, “There’s only one thing left to do, boys….”
Cool-Hand Luke nodded seriously, “shoot him.”
As in chorus, they all repeated, ‘shoot him.’

Eugene’s high-pitched squeal almost sounded like a little girl’s as he watched each man reach under the table. His heart raced and he felt like he might have a seizure.

All of a sudden six guns…water guns, appeared.
Eugene squealed again as the cold water pelted him.
Lucky Louie, Slick Sam, Fingers Freddy, Big Bart, Wise Earl and Cool-Hand Luke were laughing hysterically with their unique laughs.
Eugene shielded his face with his hands trying to ward off the assault.

Eugene had worked at the mental hospital for only six months and the clients loved him. Every Friday night was designated “High-Stakes Poker” night. The guys loved it because they pretended to be dangerous, mysterious poker players.
Eugene whipped out his own water pistol. The gunfight had begun!