AMOS TROTTER WORLD POKER TOUR 05

Chapter 9

I managed to change my return flight heading home earlier than I would have liked. I didn't call Amelia to pick me up but took a shuttle service. It was late in the afternoon and, as I expected, Amelia had Christopher at home already preparing dinner for the two of them. She stopped and with hand on hip looked at me as I walked into the house. She did manage to put down the spoon she was using to stir whatever she had on the stove. She walked over and gave me a brief kiss that was still rather cool. I swear I have seen glaciers thaw quicker than she did.

"Got enough in there for three? Something smells good and I have about maxed out on deli sandwiches."

"I figured you for grazing through the buffet and coming home with an extra five pounds." She said as she returned to the stove to continue stirring the food.

I told her about Johnny Savage and my monumental efforts to avoid him when possible. As I unfolded the story her interest started to grow in spite of how much she wanted to be uninterested. I noticed she did add a can of peas to the pot so I figured I had a chance on getting supper. By the time I got to the hand with Johnny that he went all in on putting

my chips in serious jeopardy she had removed the pot from the burner and was leaning against the counter, I had her full attention.

"I told myself I had made the fatal error I had tried so hard to avoid when Johnny laid down three eights dominating my two pair." I said with my head down looking at the floor around her feet.

"Well," she said, "it was something you had a strong desire to do and you did last well into the tournament. We can tighten our belts for awhile. No doubt we will be okay. And, I'm sure the second job you will find will speed up that process greatly. Maybe you can get a paper route."

There was nothing in her face that gave any indication she might be kidding. I loved her! "Well," I said, "the story is not quite over. There was one more card to be dealt. And even though the odds were long there was four cards that could still save my hand. I shut my eyes as the dealer laid down the last card on the river and heard several players at the table give a gasp. I cracked my right eye enough to get a blurry look....."

"Would you get on with it!" She said exasperated. "You babble on worse that anyone I know. Why do you use eight hundred words when three would get the job done?"

"Okay, okay. You are right I am dragging it out. I opened my eyes and the river card was another jack. Johnny had a big smile on his face as he looked at his full house sevens full of jacks. Then he realized I had a full house jacks full of kings and he was out of the tournament. The tournament director came over to direct him out saying what bad luck, Johnny was now officially the bubble boy. I couldn't resist telling him 'now you see, that was a mistake right there'. You shouldn't start crowing until the hand is completely over, stuff happens." I wanted to have some sympathy for him, I couldn't.

As I reached in my coat pocket removing an envelope I handed it to Amelia and said, "After reaching the payout level there was a lot of players barely holding on who pushed their last chips in the pot and rejoiced at getting money. With me almost doubling my chip stack I continued to play cautiously and made it to 47th place."

Amelia opened the envelope and saw the check inside. Even after taxes it was a nice chunk of change from the $37,670.00 payout.

"That can go back in the bank, or in a fund for Christopher's college, except for maybe enough for us to have a good night out and a nice meal in a good restaurant."

"So you don't like my cooking now?" Amelia said brows knotted together. I was almost beginning to sweat when she relaxed into a smile and wrapped me in a hug as she kissed me with enough heat I knew the glacier had melted. I love her.