Daddy's Bluff

When Daddy got work, sometimes I helped him, other times I found my own way to make money, hunting for empty pop bottles or carrying grocery bags for old ladies.

One time I got hauled in by a truant officer. Daddy told the officer, "We only in town for a couple days for my auntie's funeral." To me Daddy said, "Tadpole, you gotta be more careful."

Bugged the hell outta me when Daddy went off to play poker and left me somewhere. I got so bored I like to spit.

One day a little after five o'clock we stopped at a pawnshop for Daddy to sell watches he won. I hold tight in the car. When Daddy got to the door somebody flipped over the "closed" sign.

About that time another fella came up wearing a vest I figured he didn't button cause it too tight. He and Daddy banged on the door, whoever inside waved them away.

"Guess we outta luck," the vest man said. He got a gold tooth and shiny leather shoes. A diamond pin hold down his tie.

They flapped their gums for a while, then Daddy squatted down by my window. "You stay put Tadpole. Me and Mr. Clyworth gonna go play us a couple hands. Won't take more'n an hour."

"What I posta to do for a whole hour?" We planned to get us an early supper.

He got something out of the trunk, handed me a pink rubber ball.

I looked at that ball like it a rotten egg.

"Why don't you play ball with God?"

"Never heard such a silly thing. How you do that?"

"Simple." He showed me his teeth. "You throw the ball up in the air, and God throws it back to you."

***

Checked the alarm clock under the seat, Daddy gone more'n an hour. Got out of the car, bounced the ball on the wall for a while. Down the street lined with brick buildings I counted only four scrubby trees. Wandered down a couple dark blocks, spotted a drugstore. Didn't see nobody around. They probably all go home for supper.

Next to the drugstore I spied an alley with metal cans full of smelly garbage and a door propped open with a broken stool. Slipped in, let out my breath when the door didn't make no squeak.

At the end of a hall I found a room full of all sorts of boxes. In a far corner cards slapped. Daddy and Mr. Clyworth sat at a folding table each with a stack of chips in front of them. Daddy ain't playing for cash? Reckoned he up to something.

I always loved to watch people extra close, measure how they acted. Mr. Clyworth twirl a toothpick next to his gold tooth, scratch under his ear, rearranged his cards. Daddy pulled his shoulders back. "How many?"

"Three." Mr. Clyworth waved at a fly buzzing round his face.

Daddy took three too and pulled back his shoulders again. He might try to bluff or maybe he sneak one of them cards outta his socks.

Mr. Clyworth scratched at his jaw. He didn't need a shave, but he scratched like he did. "Okay, I'm in." He pushed a chip in the pot.

Yep. Daddy took two chips from his pile, tossed them in. "I'll see you and I'll raise..."

A damn broom fell over next to me. Daddy looked up. "I told you to wait in the car. I swear, you gonna get hurt someday if you don't heed my words."

My face got hot. "I got bored."

"It's okay, Wood. Let her watch."

I climbed on a step ladder and sat.

Daddy said, "Well, I bout ready to beat you anyway."

Mr. Clyworth's skinny lips twitched. "You're bluffing again Wood?" He dropped his last two chips in.

Daddy shrugged, laid down his cards. Two nines. Mr. Clyworth showed a pair of tens, collected his winnings, shuffled and dealt. The fly landed on Mr. Clyworth's cheek but he didn't pay no mind, so I reckoned his hand good.

Daddy pulled back them shoulders, bet two chips, took only one card. His hand must stink. How he gonna fix this one? Went over to see.

"Daddy, I'm hungry." I leaned on him, peeked at his cards: two twos, an ace, a three and a six. Reckon he gonna palm another ace from his left sock.

"Don't worry, Tadpole. We gonna finish here real quick like."

"Your bet, Wood. And keep those cards in sight. I'm keeping a sharp eye on you."

"I prepared to bet everything I got here. But don't look like you got enough to see me...unless you want to throw in some cash."

Mr. Clyworth put down his cards, hooked his thumbs in his vest. The naked lightbulb above make that diamond tie pin glint. "Now Wood, I told you I only play for trade. We agreed on no money. But tell you what, I've got something better." He pulled a box from a top shelf, set it on a folding chair, opened it. Inside packed full of comic books.

"Them ain't worth nothin."

"Maybe not now. But you mark my words, Wood. You keep these around awhile and they'll be worth lots."

Daddy read the cover of one of the books. "'The Adventures of Jerry Lewis.' Oh, why not."

Mr. Clyworth picked up his cards again. "I know you're bluffing this time, Wood."

"Don't be so sure."

In my best little kid voice I said, "Daddy, you sure you can beat him? These four cards alone only add up to..." I poked at each one, "two...four...six...eight."

"You got four twos?" Mr. Clyworth threw down his cards. "Damn, if you didn't clean me out."

***

Outside I stepped fast to keep up with Daddy. "I tricked him into thinking you had four-of-a-kind? Ain't that great?"

"Hurry in case he decide to look at them cards." Daddy throw the box in the back like he don't want nobody see him carrying comic books. "I don't give a damn bout winnin. Less he throw in some cash." He gunned the engine, screeched down the street. "If I lose, reckon he feel sorry for us, give me a couple bucks for our supper. Leastwise one of them bags of pretzels."

"That why you don't cheat?"

"No. Reason I don't cheat gotta do with the holster he hide under that vest. Reckon you miss that."

Willed myself not to cry. "Oh."

"Now cause of your prank I gotta use my emergency money for vittles and gas to get outta town." He checked the rearview mirror. "Tadpole, you really gotta learn to be more careful. Next time do like I say. You hear?"

At least next time I got me some comic books to readwhile I waited for him.