The Art of the Hustle 2 (Complete)

Chapter Forty-Seven

Deon had Chanel for the week, but she was asleep on Trevor's couch. In the dining room, Deon counted his chips. He had just won a major pot and was celebrating.

"Don't get too excited," Trevor said. "This isn't over."

"I just took like half your chips," Deon boasted.

"It's a little too soon to be celebrating, don't you think? The game isn't over until one person has all the chips."

"Yes, and that will be me."

"Don't be so sure of yourself. Arrogance is blinding."

"Whatever, you're just upset that you lost."

"That's my point. I haven't lost, but you're acting as if you won. This is actually an important life lesson so pay attention. You've heard the saying, 'don't count your chickens before they hatch'?"

"Yeah."

"Well, never count your money before it's in the bank. Never spend with the assumption of a future payday."

"Okay, enough with the life lessons. Deal some cards, let's play."

Two cards shot across the green felt and Deon was eager to continue his winning streak. Folding up the corners of the two cards, he glanced at the cards and suits — King and Queen suited (clubs). "Raise," he said confidently gripping a huge stack of chips in his hand and pushing them into the centre of the table.

"Confident bet," Trevor said. "How much is it?"

"10,000."

"Call," Trevor said, opting to just match the bet. It wasn't really ten thousand dollars, rather it was just some arbitrary denomination that they assigned to the chips. They were just playing for fun.

The flop came: 10 of Clubs, Jack of Spades, 8 of Diamonds. Deon studied the flop and looked at his cards. The whole time, Trevor never took his eyes off the kid.

"Bet," Deon said. "10,000."

"Call," Trevor said calmly.

The turn card was a 5 of Clubs. With two Clubs on the board, Deon was on a flush draw. He also needed a 9 to connect his straight, or a King or Queen to make a pair.

"Check," Deon said. Deon sat there with a straight face, but Trevor sensed weakness. He knew Deon didn't was likely on a straight or flush draw and wanted to see the last card as cheaply as possible.

"I'll bet," Trevor said, counting his stack of chips. After counting his chips, he took one last look at Deon and with a straight face said, "I'm all in."

"How much to call?" Deon asked.

"80,000."

Deon sat with the decision for a while, but eventually folded. Trevor flipped his cards over. "I have nothing," he said, showing a 7, 2 unsuited.

"You bluffed me?" Deon shouted, nearly waking Chanel.

"Hey calm down, that's the nature of the game."

"Can we see what the last card would have been?" Deon asked.

"Sure."

Trevor was the dealer. He picked up the deck and turned over the final card. It was a 9 of clubs. This would have given Deon both a straight and a flush.

"I guess you're going to tell me there is some lesson to be learned here," Deon said, feeling defeated.

"Of course," Trevor said with a smile. "There are lessons to be learned in every situation."

"So what's the lesson here? Take a chance, have confidence in your hand, be bold?"

"Something like that, but don't worry about it. Tonight is about playing poker and having fun."

"Too bad you won't let me drink," Deon lamented.

"You're seventeen!" Trevor said.

"So?"

"So, it's illegal to serve alcohol to minors and you shouldn't need to drink to have fun. Also, we're playing a cerebral game and alcohol impairs your judgement. Why would you intentionally handicap yourself like that?"

"I thought it was supposed to be a fun game?"

"It is, and therefore you shouldn't need to drink in order to have fun. Besides, you have a daughter. Do you really want to drink around her?"

"I guess not."

"And don't you have work tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I have to be there by 8:30 a.m."

"How are you liking it so far?"

"It's good."

"It's good? That's it?"

"Yeah, it has only been a few weeks so we're just training still. We're not speaking to actual customers yet."

"Are you nervous?"

"To talk to customers?"

"Yeah."

"I guess a little bit."

"Don't be nervous. You used to talk to customers all the time. You sold Ashley a bootleg necklace, remember?"

"Yes, I remember. It seems so long ago. I've changed a lot since those days."

"I know you have. My point is, dealing with the public doesn't have to be so scary. Just be polite and speak to them the way you would speak to me. If they ask you to do something you don't know how to do, just put them on hold and figure it out or ask someone."

"Okay."

"Often situations that freak us out or make us nervous aren't nearly as scary as we make them seem in our heads. I think you'll do great."

"Thanks," Deon said.

The game was far from over so the cards were shuffled and another hand was dealt.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" Deon said.

"Sure."

"When you were my age, did you ever make any mistakes? You know, things you wished you could take back."

"Of course. I think that's a part of growing up. You don't always have the right answers or know the proper way to act."

"What are some of the things you wished you could take back?"

"What are you, my therapist?" Trevor said, deflecting the question.

"Did you do something you wish you could take back?"

Deon didn't answer, he took a drink and told Trevor to forget about it.