...go meet a creepy guy? (Pt 1)

Just as Sean got up from his table at the end of his shift, his pit boss, Frank, signaled him to come over. This was nothing out of the ordinary as Frank would often talk to him about things he could improve or general chatter about a particular girl sitting at Sean's table. This time Frank put his arm around Sean. "Hey Doc, (Frank's nickname for Sean. Really, Frank's nickname for anyone who had graduated a four year college and was planning to go back for more) I've been noticing you lately. Not bad. You might actually be half decent some day."
Sean didn't really know why Frank's complements always came out like insults. He figured Frank's father had substituted slaps on the back for hugs when Frank was a kid. Note to self: hug my kids a lot.

Sean had more important things to figure out than Frank's childhood. He had a choice to make. His first instinct was to visit the girl. Then, for some reason, he had this overwhelming feeling that he would be smart enough to know after 30 minutes whether or not the guy is worth his time. After all, he could always bail and catch up with the girl by 10:15. This seemed logical.

Binion's Casino is the epitomy of classic Vegas. Founded by Benny Binion, an authentic Texas gambler, it has, among other claims to fame, hosted the very first World Series of Poker and every one since until this past year. Unlike the strip casinos that attract families, sorority spring break trips, and senior church group road trips, Binion's downtown was for the gamblers. It had all the glamour of a baked potato. This is where Sean found himself. Fortunately for him, it was a Wednesday night and the cab ride over only took him about 10 mintues. That gave him 20 minutes to decide if this guy was worth missing his chance with Boobs.

When most people walk into a casino, one of the first things they notice is the noise. The slots ringing, the chips clicking, the craps game cheering. After 9 months of dealing, Sean no longer noticed these things. What Sean did notice was that the blue button down short sleeve shirt the man from his table was wearing was now covered by a black blazar with a name tag on it and that the man in that blazar caught the eye of a man in an identical blazar across the room as soon as Sean walked in. Sean suddenly became nervous. If a man off the street asks you to do something illegal and you say no, that's about the end of it. But this looked like an employee. When some higher up at a different casino asked you to do something illegal and you say no, they have a tendency to not want you around Vegas anymore. They also have means to accomplish that.


"Right on time, that's good," said Jimmy whose smiling, although intended to put Sean at ease, seemed to have the opposite effect.

"I didn't realize you worked....are you allowed to gamble at other casinos if you work here?" Sean had interupted what he realized was a dumb question in order to ask an unintentionally accusatory question. Sean's sudden panic must have spread across his face because Jimmy said, "don't worry kid, you can turn me in to the boss later, right now I have a simple question for you. I know you probably don't make a ton of money working over there at the Flamingo. Kids like you in Vegas need some money to throw around. Instead of that crap you make over there, how would you like..."

Sean panicked. If he didn't hear Jimmy's scam, he couldn't get in trouble. He didn't care how much money he would make or how easy it would be to bring one little backpack across the Mexican border a month. This was not for him. He loved making $5.25 an hour plus tips. He loved hoping someone would tip him big so he could rent a movie that week. In his haste, however, all he could interupt Jimmy with was, "WAIT, I LOVE MOVIES!"

"What, kid?"

"I'm sorry....I mean...I don't want to hear your plan. I just want to go. Please, I haven't heard anything important. I won't even remember your name. Just...I want to go."

"Kid, you ok? What plan? I know you don't make a lot over there and I like your style so I thought you might be interested in working here for $5.75. I guess they really treat you good over there."

Note to self: stop watching Ocean's Eleven.

One of the most remarkable things about the male mind is its ability to switch over to thinking about sex once any other important stimulus has been removed such as illegal propositions by creepy men named Jimmy. When there is an actually possibility of sex, not only does the time it takes to switch get halved, but it never really leaves. The reason I mention is that Sean didn't really remember saying goodbye. leaving, opr hailing a cab, but he found himself seatbeltless in a cab hurtling towards Bally's and being driven by someone who he had apparantely offered an extra 20 to if he got Sean there by 10.

Have I mentioned the thing about walking into a casino? Yeah, that again. This time Sean's attention was focused somewhat differently. Boobs had ditched the tank and skirt for a simple black dress that screamed "If you buy me a drink I might pretend you have a shot with me....but you won't." Sean sat down next to her at the bar. SHe waited the appropriate 3 seconds to turn around an acknowledge him. Long enough to indicate she was only turning around for her own benefit, not his; short enough so as not to be obnoxious about the whole thing.

"I'm Kate," Kate said, more matter-of-factly than flirty. (whew! no more calling people "Boobs!" Well, at least until Sean meets Bob Cockinson.)

"Sean." Very good, the fewer words the better.

"So, over on Blackjack 12 over there, there are four people playing, three men and a woman. One of them works for the NGC (Nevada Gaming Commission). Which one is it?"

"What? How should I....are you serious? I was just thinking that we..."

Kate made a move to get up and leave. "I made a mistake, I'm sorry."

Sean realized that Kate might be offering something other than another easy night in Vegas. Since his male ego already regretted how he had acted with Jimmy, he was not going to chicken out again. Instead, he focused in on Blackjack table 12.