¡Mi suerte es el suyo!
Some days on this planet just surpass even our wildest imaginations… and when they are long overdue for a sufferer they bring tears to their eyes and full wonder to their hearts.
This morning I woke up slowly, tossing and turning in my bed. I didn`t feel too good about the coming day. There was a bunch of noise out in the streets and I rolled around restless. I managed to use my stereo headphone earbuds as earPLUGS and went back into a cozy sleep. Around 9 o`clock the sun woke me up: too bright and too warm. I suffered through an agonizing icy shower- I had to today, thursday is an ON day for the water and I had no choice but to grin and bear it.
I ate a quick breakfast and by 10 o`clock was sitting on the couch bored as hell staring at the television, watching CNN. I feel that sickening feeling in my stomach again… that all along I`ve believed that Barack Obama will lose to Hillary, who in turn will lose to McCain. I cannot believe I`m watching it transpire before my very eyes. So that was the hopeless hole I found myself in at daybreak when POOF— the door popped open and Diriang stepped in. He invited me to have lunch at a swimming pool near where his girlfriend, Maria Jose lives.
We had a good time at the pool. We all ate delicious lunches, split a little bottle of Flor de Caña and relaxed in the shade. I threw a couple of bullies headlong into the pool as they were in the process of chasing helpless youngin`s around. Everyone laughed; a good time was had by all. As yesterday was Maria Jose`s 20th birthday, I decided to treat everyone to lunch and picked up the hefty tab of 500+ cordobas. In a wave of uncontrollable nonsense and boredom I decided to head to the ¨casino.¨
The casino of which I speak is actually called Atlantic City. I know, the irony just kills me. I came inside and plopped a 100 cordoba note into the video poker machine. I started off hot, hit four of a kind Queens and blew up to 400 cords. Then I lost, and lost and lost. All of a sudden I was down to 100, then 50, then my last 5 cordobas… just enough for one more max credit bet. I`m not kidding here, I was seriously down to my final bet.
I hit a straight, and using a crazy doubling feature they offer down here I girded my loins and doubled up twice to 100 cords. Then I played some more… and VIOLA hit another four of a kind for 250 cords, and crazily doubled that successfully up to 500.
Now I`m feeling good. 500 cords is a ton of money down here, thats two full days of healthy excess, no doubt. I`m sitting next to this guy and talking to him about cool places to visit in Nueva Segovia… fun times no doubt. Then I get dealt a hand. It is
Seven of Diamonds
Jack of Hearts
Ten of Clubs
Ace of Clubs
Jack of Clubs
I already had a made hand, two Jacks would`ve given me my bet back, and I could`ve tried to double it. Without much thought I decided it would be better to chance it and go for the royal flush. I held the three clubs and hit the draw button. Up flashed the King of Clubs and the Queen of Clubs. The bell went off, the light lit up, I leaped up out of my seat and came dangerously close to defecating in my pants.
I just hit a natural royal flush… for the first time in my life… clearing out the progressive jackpot of some $5,600 cordobas.
I lost it! I hugged both of the men next to me. A female attendant from the casino came over to me and started verifying my win. People started gathering around. My heart was pounding, I just couldnt believe it! I have spent, what, half of that in my whole time in Nicaragua so far! Are you kidding me!? I turned to the small crowd and proudly declared ¨100 cords for all of you.¨
I had to fill out a little slip of paper with my name and my cell phone number, then they rolled out the loot. I took two of the 500 cord notes and had them change it into ten 100 cord notes. Then I turned around with my stack and handed out, as promised, 100 cordobas to everyone who was near me when it happened… saying ¨mi suerte es el suyo¨ or ¨my luck is yours.¨
I still cannot believe it. I handed out about C$1200, including tips to the security guard, the cashier, and the attendant. I still walked out of there up about US$250… an absolutely UNREAL rake in the third world… that is months, upon months of salary for some people here. I quickly zipped home and reveled in the absolute wildness of this. I`ve never, ever hit a royal flush before in any situation of any poker hand I`ve ever been dealt. It was pure heaven.
Some days are just incredible… waking up this morning I was sure today would become a living nightmare. Nothing good could come of it! But lo and behold after a relaxing afternoon by the pool my generosity was returned to me over tenfold. Its simply incredible.
I do not expect you to believe me, especially since I am trying to bend my experiences into some work of semi-fiction while I`m down here. No, I do not expect you to believe me… that is why I took the photo that appears right below this post. Indeed, some days on this planet surpass even our wildest imaginations. I hope that when I die, should I come to be judged by a presence greater than me… I hope that presence will look back on me passing out 100 cordoba notes and see the genuine good in me.
4 years ago