Tuesday Tales - Word prompt "Pipe"

 

Welcome! We have another episode of The Kicker's story. Visit the other authors, and read their fine stories too. You'll find them HERE . Thanks for stopping by. 

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"Before you get pissed off, hear me out."

Ty nodded and took a sip.

Andrew leaned back, resting his elbows on the table. "I think it was Las Vegas."

"What?"

"Las Vegas. You know. Sin City. All the immorality and stupidity happening there. I think you let yourself get sucked in and went soft."

"Sucked in?"

"Yeah. Did you have a girlfriend?"

Tyler sense heat creeping up his neck. "Yeah. Did."

Andrew raised his eyebrows. "No longer?"

"She dumped right after I got fired."

"That's one. Did you drink in Vegas?"

"Yeah, but not before a game."

"In-between games? Like during the week?"

"So did everyone else."

"I didn't ask about everyone else. I'm only interested in you."

"Okay, okay, so yes, I did."

Winnie arrived balancing a tray with their food. She put the plates down. Tyle added butter and syrup to his hotcakes and chowed down.

"Did you gamble?" Andrew sliced off a piece of sausage.

"Who lives in Vegas and doesn't gamble?"

"I'm sure plenty of people do. How much did you lose?"

"How do you know I lost?"

"Because the cards are stacked against you. The house always wins. They have the odds on their side. Remember your math." Andrew Forge raised his gaze from his food to connect with Ty's. 

"Okay. Yeah. I lost." Tyler shoved a forkful of sausage in his mouth.

"A lot?" Andrew kept his gaze on Ty.

"No. I stopped before it hurt –too much."

"If you don't mind me asking. How much did you lose?"

"About five grand."

"Seems like a lot to me."

"No offense, but you're a school teacher."

"No offense taken. You have a point. Still, was losing fun?"

"No way!"

"You could have sent five grand to your mother instead. You'd have helped her. Made her happy and felt like a good guy, instead of a schmuck who got victimized by the lure of the casinos."

 Tyler looked down at his hands. One thing about Andrew Forge, he never pulled punches. He spoke the truth, no matter how much it hurt. Mr. Forge reached over and patted Tyler's forearm.

"Don't worry. It wasn't a fatal mistake." Andrew put his fork down and pulled a pipe out of his pocket. "I know. No smoking here. I never smoke this anymore. Just keep it handy to remind myself."

"Maybe not a fatal one, but I’m out of football." Tyler stared at his plate as he cut up the remaining food.

"No, you're not. You're just out of the Nevada Gamblers."

That's all for this week. Come back next week to see what Andrew Forge has to say.