Next on the agenda, we did some shopping at the captive boutiques in the Marriott and Playa Linda resorts, and visited the Wyndham long enough for Judi to lose twenty dollars in the slot machines, which wasn't long.
In the evening we went to the Wyndham so Judi could gamble in the casino. She promised to be only two hours, and she was really there for only two hours and forty-five minutes -- that's not bad. She was supposed to spend only 0, and she really lost only 0 -- that's not bad, either. On the way home I told her she owed me 0 but she doesn't believe me. She had seven drinks, but insists she only had four. And she says she'll never gamble again. Yeah, right, like I haven't heard that a million times before. A sucky, sucky evening. (Note: Judi did repay me 0 the next day, and did admit she had seven drinks.)
While we in the casino, I noticed (what else do I have to do but notice things?) a blonde in a two-tiered black skirt, flip flops, and a top that didn't go with her bra (which showed); paired with a guy in a collared knit shirt, untucked, and baggy shorts hanging down to his knees. They were both very young. She was playing a slot machine, but her heart didn't seem to be in it. I've been there, done that, and I know the signs -- gaze wanders, look of desperation as money dwindles, etc. True gamblers aren't desperate. They are exhilarant, even when losing.
He was playing the next machine over. Then she stopped playing and turned in her seat and was obviously pleading with him -- talking intensely, putting her hands on his arm. "Good luck, sister," I thought. After a long time and a lot of words, they got up and headed, together, for the casino exit. She had a thin white purse with a strap so short that when she slung it over her shoulder it was snug in her armpit.
And I thought that was the last of them. My attention wandered to other things. So I was surprised when a half-hour later they showed back up, coming around the end of our row of slot machines, her hand on his arm, heading for the cashier (who was right behind us). Had they still been in the casino all this time?
But he veered off from the route to the cashier and started popping money into another machine. She had her hands on his arm again. More words ensued. He drifted to another machine. These were five-dollar machines (I had first seen them on dollar machines). Eventually they made it to the cashier. On their way out, from the cashier, he stopped at a twenty-five dollar machine and she watched hopelessly while he fed whatever he got from the cashier into the machine. It spun at least twice, and he may have played or on each spin. I don't know. I just know that when the reels stopped and he'd won nothing they left, and he had nothing.
Sister (and I do feel a kinship with you), don't ever take vacations where casinos are available. That's your only, only hope. I know.
Text and images © Copyright Gregory Smith or Judith Fulks 2005