I woke with a start. Napping. A luxury that I could not afford. I was about to lose my apartment. No job for weeks. No prospects. Just short stints here and there. Just like the rest of the world. Or at least like everybody in my world.

I went into the bathroom, and did my business. Then, I washed my face. Or at least splashed some cold water on my face. What was I going to do?

I tripped on the small throw rug in the kitchen. That was when I heard the jingle in my pocket. I reached in and found six quarters. A buck and a half. Whooey! I was rich. I decided that a condemned man is entitled to one last meal. Even if was just a couple Ho Hos that I could buy at the convenience store down the street.

I walked down the hall. Jimmy must have super hearing, because he called out to me as I passed his open door.

“Yo, Marty! Whatcha gonna do with all that change jangling in your pocket? Why don’tcha come play a couple hands of blackjack with us?”

I looked in the door, and shook my head. “Nah. I’m gonna go get a last meal before they toss me outa this dump. A man deserves a last meal. Right?”

Jimmy smiled. It made me think of the grin that the devil musta given to Adam and Eve way back in the garden. Made me shiver. But I still listened.

“Well if that’s all it takes… C’mon in and take a load off. Have a slice of pizza and a drink.”

“Now, you know I don’t drink. I…”

“It’s just soda. You can have a whole can. Unopened.”

“Well…”

“On me.” Jimmy smiled that smile. “Ah c’mon. Just a little blackjack. I’m the house.”

That pizza might have been greasy and cold, but it smelled good. And it was probably better than a Ho Ho. I stepped in and sat down at the table.

I hedged my bets and pulled three of my quarters out of my pocket, and put them in front of me.

“Ah c’mon now. I know I heard more quarters in your pocket than those measly three. Why don’tcha see if you can give ‘em some company in that lonely pocket of yours?”

I reached in and pulled out one more quarter trying not to scrape it on the other two in there.

“You gonna bet that all on one hand?”

“Nah. I figure I better just go a quarter at a time so I can get me some pizza in my belly.”

Jimmy winked. “That’s good thinkin’. Go ahead and have a piece while I deal.”

I grabbed a slice and gobbled it down while Jimmy dealt the cards. Two down to everybody and one down, one up to himself. Well, I got two or three blackjacks and had myself a lot more money than I had coming in after just half an hour. But I only had that one piece of pizza. And it was turning in my stomach. Or maybe I was feeling the anxiety of waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Uh, Jimmy.” Jimmy looked up at me. “I know it’s bad form to take the money and run, but my gut’s doin’ summersaults, and I gotta leave real soon.”

Jimmy smiled. “I’ll tell you what. You just take what you want from that pile and put it in your pocket. Then bet the rest on this next hand, right? I’m sure it’s gonna be a great hand.”

I knew Jimmy better than that. His generosity was not his strong suit. I slid the whole pile forward on the table as my bet. I grabbed as many coins as I could without letting anybody see or hear. “Okay. I’m all in as those gamblers always say.”

Well, it was obvious that I was not going to win. I was dealt a ten and a three. I hit and got a nine. Bust.

“Well, I guess you’re done man.”

“I guess so.” I stood.

Jimmy frowned. “Wait a minute. You forgot to pay for that pizza slice.”

“But you said…”

“I said have a slice. I only said the soda, which you did’t have, was on me. But I didn’t say you didn’t hafta pay for the pizza. Normally, it’s a buck a slice, but for you, those last two quarters in your pocket ought to do.”

I reached in my pocket and fished out the two quarters. It was the last of the money I had brought into the room with me. I set it on the table.

Jimmy smiled. “Nice doin’ business with you Marty. Don’t be a stranger after they kick you out.” He and his buddies laughed.

I walked down the hall toward the front door. I put the quarters that I had managed to sneak from the pile into my pockets. So quiet that Jimmy could not hear them over the laughter in his room. Five in each pocket. Not quite double, but enough for a Ho Ho.

I might not have had any prospects for the next day, but I felt like I was on top of the world with more money in my pocket than I had just an hour before.