Chapter 37: Cash and Prizes

"I remember a time where there was room to sit on the couch" Ethan commented to Nikki. They were both in the living room sitting on the floor playing on the Wee gaming system. "Now with all these cats that have nested here, look where we end up having to sit."

Nikki turned to face the couch that was completely covered with cats in various stages of sleep or laziness. "You make a compelling point for once."

"Hey!" Ethan protested.

She continued "I can't complain too much because this huge estate we're living in now, I'm pretty sure that had something to do with Cleopatra's doing." Cleo looked up when she heard her name mentioned and winked before settling back down to her nap.

"Alright, I'll agree to that." Ethan smirked. "Now hurry up and 'throw' your bowling ball." They were playing the game Wee Can't Play Sports and specifically the mode that resembled in an abstract sort of way a variation of bowling.

Nikki stood up, twirled around 3 times, jumped in the air, and then threw her hand out in front of her. The game reported "Strike, Good Job".

Ethan frowned. "How is it that your method always gets a strike? That's a completely absurd way to throw the ball."

Nikki giggled. "And yet it works every time. Looks like you should take some pointers based on your score."

Ethan threw his ball and the game reported "Gutter Ball, Try harder next time."

She added "I meant to ask, why is your score negative, I'm pretty sure that's not how bowling scoring works in this game."

"I'm just that good" Ethan said proudly.

"We aren't playing golf, so you want a positive score, you know what never mind, try and not beat me too badly OK brother?" Nikki tried to not laugh too hard.

Just then, Ethan's phone rang. He quickly answered his phone.
"Possibly A Pizza Pizzaria, how can I help you?.....
Large pepperoni pizza hold the sauce, cheese, and dough?.....
Sure thing, it'll be ready next month, that'll be elvenity hundred dollar....."

Ethan pulled out a sheet of paper. "We do accept credit cards, whats your card number? Ok and name on the card? Alright and that other number. Ok thank you, see you in 30 days." He then hung up the cellphone, yanked out the battery, and tossed both pieces out the window.

Nikki gave him a confused look. "Funny story about how I got that phone.." he began but was abruptly interrupted by his real cellphone ringing. "I should take this." Nikki nodded.
"Hello?...
Hey Lenny, what's up?.....
Really? That's great, when can I start?.....
Taking money from tourists, yeah.....
We'll head on over in a few minutes...
Thanks, see you there.....
Bye"

Ethan hung up his phone and dropped it in a pocket. "Guess what we're doing tonight?"

Nikki dropped her hands to her sides. "I probably don't want to know, but go ahead and tell me."

"Well, the local casino on the Russian reservation across town just got poker tables in. So I was going to 'Russia' on over and take some money from hapless tourists."

"Haven't the Russians been trying to get us for the past couple weeks? " Nikki asked. Cleo lifted her head up and nodded though neither Nikki or Ethan seemed to be watching.

"What are you talking about?" Ethan scratched his head.

"Don't you read the paper? Last week's headline read 'Russians fail to crash space debris on local residents, foiled by giant laser'. Didn't you put two and two together?" she asked him.

"I hadn't made the connection, and besides Suki had a very convincing note that said 'There is no giant laser, nothing to see here. Move along.' "

Jade walked by briefly as she headed into the kitchen and added "You even do the power bills and see our power consumption is in the tens of thousands of dollars."

Ethan nodded. "I do take care of the power bill. I just figured Nikki over here took really long hot showers." Nikki punched Ethan in the shoulder. "So are we going or what?"

Nikki nodded grudgingly. "Sure, lets go."

The trip to the casino was short because it was only a couple miles down the road. Upon arriving, they found a parking space in the parking lot and walked over to the entrance. A tall man greeted them as they entered. "Velcome to Casino vhere slot machines play you. Please to be enjoying your stay. And don't forget to leave all your money here."

As Nikki and Ethan walked towards the poker room, Nikki commented "Well at least they are straight forward here. That's got to be worth something."

Ethan shrugged. "Part of the fun is the illusion you're going to leave with more money, shatter that fragment of a hope and what are you left with. Overpriced beverages."

"I thought the beverages were free here."

"They are, but what have you got to do to get the free drinks?" he asked her. She nodded in understanding. "Ah here we are" he commented as they made it up to the poker room.

The poker room host walked up to them. "Velcome to Poker Room, ve have many games for you to pick tonight. Pick vhich one you vant. Ve have Limit, No Limit, and our newest game, 'everybody bets, everybody loses'."

Ethan's eyes lit up ."Hmm that last one sounds good."

"ETHAN!" Nikki said forcefully.

He quickly corrected "Oh uh the No Limit game is fine."