OPS Shenanigans

Backing Out of Vegas

Eric loved Vegas. There he said it. He loved the atmosphere, the people, and most of all the money but after his last bout of out of control gambling and his impromptu banning from the Stage Light City. He decided it was time to throw in the hat and take his best friend Justin's advice. Which had been signed furiously over Skype not 2 months ago.

A support group.

That is how he came to spend his Thursday evening in a village hall that smelt like mould, alcohol and guilt.

There was one thing that kept him coming back. Her. He had yet to learn her name. But her hair glowed orange like the sun and lit up his heart, she smile sweetly to him whenever she passed him on his way out.

He had no idea what someone so innocent could be doing there. Then one night one of the older members of the group stood up.

"Hi, um everyone my name is Richard." He clung to the end of his shirt with clawed hands, tripping over every word.

The usual parrot of "hello, (insert name)" was parroted back.

He started slow and deliberate. " for the last few weeks I have been coming here well because my daughter, bless her kind soul saved me from myself. When she found me, I was pissed drunk at a Crabs table in Atlantic City, loosing everything due to my inebriation." He stopped and looked to a point behind me for a few seconds before carrying on. Eric turned enough to see the halo of glowing auburn hair out of the corner of his eye and then turned back to hear the rest of his speech. "But I am proud to say that I haven't gambled since, and how could I with a kindred soul like hers watching over me. Thank you."

Everyone clapped politely. He clapped a little louder.

The group leader, an ex-gambler called Toby called the end of the meeting everyone split off,  Eric finally decided to introduce himself to her.

Maybe her kindred spirit could save his soul.