DragonOrchid24 Contest Entries

Contest »Orange Wattworld Saloon«

Contest: https://www.wattpad.com/1272812691-haunted-wild-west-festival-2022-contest-%C2%BBorange

Task: Write a tale of a card gamehosted in the orange wattworld saloon. 4 players and an empty chair. Someone comes in, who  comes to join and what happens if they win?

Title: Play for Keeps

Word Count: 1550

We're sitting around the right table, our usual spot. Mickey, the bartender, is cleaning a glass behind the bar, having already served our table. It's the four of us tonight, instead of the usual five. It's me, plus Georgie, Toni, and Pat. Alex is busy tonight, out doing something. I didn't listen to the reason.

We hunch over the table, holding cards in our hands. Poker. Texas Hold 'em specifically. This is typical of us lately. Last year, when we started this group, and met every week, we were playing Five-Card Stud. But Georgie had said last-week that we should try something new. Telling us that Five-Card Stud had been outplayed.

So we're playing Texas Hold 'em, on a Friday, at the Orange Wattworld Saloon.

"Fold." Pat says bitterly, throwing in the cards.

"Me too." I say, throwing mine in. That only leaves Georgie and Toni in this round.

"Call." Georgie says, matching Toni. "You show first." Georgie says to Toni.

"Here," Toni says, showing the hand. "Three of a kind, sevens." Georgie grins and I already know that Georgie's hand is better.

Georgie holds out the cards.

Toni looks at the three center cards and swears quietly and drops the hand of cards on the table.

"Straight flush? How is that possible? Unbelievable." Toni mutters.

Just then, the saloon doors burst open, and someone new walks in. I say someone new, because a hush breaks out over the crowd. Obviously not someone local.

Naturally, the bartender calls out to this person.

"Hey, welcome, what's your business here?" That's Mickey, as straightforward as always.

"Oh, I'm just-" The person appears to scan the room, eyeing those at tables like ours. "Looking for a little fun." The person in question is wearing a large cloak over them. It's odd, but we get outta-towners around here from time to time.

Mickey shrugs.

"As long as you're payin' for your drinks and you don't hurt anyone, I don't care." Mickey goes back to putting away glasses and bringing rounds for other tables.

"What do you say?" Toni asks me. I raise my eyebrows.

"About what?" I ask. Toni motions to the new person.

"Why not let them join ours? We're out Alex tonight anyway." I shrug.

"Alright." No one else objects so Georgie raises a hand.

"We've got an open seat." The person nods, and I catch a glimpse of white from beneath their hood as they move.

They sit in the vacant seat, maneuvering between Pat and Toni. They put a bag carefully on the ground, as if it's fragile.

"Welcome." Toni says, and everyone makes introductions.

"This is Toni, Pat, Georgie, and I'm Charlie." I say, eager to get back to the game.

"What is it you are playing?" The person's voice sounds odd, and I can't really tell why. It's a deep voice, but smooth somehow. I noticed that they didn't say their name but dismissed it.