Hold'em or Fold'em
“Hey, Khronos.” Four lights lit up within the wall clock. “Shift house to power conservation mode, please.” Ethan called out.
He peaked around his dining room. A simple set up with a white, square, metallic table in the center. The soft hum of the fish tank to his left slowly faded as the lights illuminating the aquatic domain dimmed to shadows.
He pulled out a chair and seated himself at the head of the table.
“You ready for another game, Dad?”
“You betcha!” His dad replied as he took a seat across the table.
Ethan folded his hands in his lap. “Computer, intiate configuration. Code "Poker Night."
Instantly, the metallic table began to shift and morph systematically. Its tiles, panels, and inner parts distorted chaotically as it stretched out a forest green felt across the top. From above, the chandelier powered on with a brief, high pitch whine. The crystal imbedded into the lowest ornament quickly shone down, projecting the markers and placeholders onto the felt flawlessly.
Ethan winced as a shot of steam from the shifting table blew strongly into his face, the warm smell of oil blitzed his senses
Several panels fused together to create two boxes in the center of the transformation. As the boxes pivoted into place, they briefly displayed two deck of cards. A red deck and a blue deck.
“Blue’s my lucky color.” Ethan spoke with confidence. “So, we’re using blue.”
Jack laughed in response. “Don’t matter what color is, that title isn’t goin’ anywhere.”
“We’ll just see about that, pops.”
The grinding and clattering were quickly silenced with a thud. The square table had now transformed into a round, felt covered poker table. The padded, raised rim of the table delicately spat red and green chips close to the players’ hands.
“I’m champ, so I’ll start with big blind.” Jack spoke, his thin lips stretched into an arrogant grin.
“Sure, sure.” Ethan barely acknowledged, focusing more on stacking the smooth, marble chips into neat stacks. “Ladies first.”
“That’s your mother talking, there.” Jack’s laugh trailed with a hint of nostalgia.
The two players remained quiet as they finished the final preparations.
“Ready, dad?”
“Whenever you are.”
“Table, start game.” With a press of a button underneath the rim, the inner table softly rattled as it shuffled the cards. The box in the center popped up and spat four cards alternatingly to each player.
“I won’t lose this time.” He exclaimed, snapping two fingers against the table, pinning the cards. Grabbing one green chip, he limped them into the center.
Jack laughed, following up with two green chips. “Less talk, more losing, boy.”
Ethan responded in kind. “Hang on, let me check my watch.”
“Why? Ya got a hot date or something?” Jack taunted laughingly.
Ethan tapped his smartwatch. “Nah, I wanna see how long it takes for you to lose.” He examined the time on his watch.
September 12th, 2044. 9:32 P.M.
"Oh good, I can whoop you and still have enough time to finish watching Fast and Furious 25.”
"I got your fast and furious for ya.” Jack retorted. “Now hurry up and play.”
Ethan fingered the corner of the cards, the coarseness of the paper against his softened hands. He gingerly peeled the two back. Jack of diamonds, 3 of hearts.Well, that’s a great start. A hand he knew would only cost him chips. With a flick of his wrist, the cards glided across the table. “I fold.”
Jack guffawed as the chips and cards were gathered “Aw, that’s it? Maybe I should play my granddaughter. She might actually make me sweat.”
“Oh, you got jokes, huh?” Ethan bit back with a grin. With a heavy sigh, His smile faded, pressing a button underneath the table, readying the next hand. “Aurora misses you, ya know? She’s been watching that video letter you left with her teddy bear.”
Jack’s eyes widened. “Oh, you gave that to her early? Her birthday’s not for another week.”
“Yeah, but Ruby and I thought that, since she’s been missing you so much, we’d give it to her a little early.”
“Ah, I see she’s gonna be how old, 1? 2 years old?”
“She’ll be 5 this year. She’s getting to be so big.” Ethan peeked at his cards and tossed five chips in. “We told her we’d go see you tomorrow.”
“I’d like that very much. Call.” He added five more chips.
Ethan peeked at his cards as the flop was placed onto the table.
Ace of hearts, 4 of hearts, 8 of diamonds.
With the king and jack of hearts in his hand, he had the makings of a flush.
“Bet. Four hundred.” Ethan tossed two greens and a blue chip.
“Oooh, he thinks he’s a big boy now.” Jack teased, matching the bet.
Another card appeared. Five of spades.
Not what I needed. Ethan grabbed two more blues and called. “Bet. Four hundred.”
“Call”
Last card. 3 of hearts.
Yes! Ethan knocked. “Check.”
“Oh no, slip. You in this now.” Jack laughed. Two greens and three blues. “Bet. Eight hundred.”
Ethan added four blue chips and wobbled back and forth. “Oh no, whatever shall I do? If only I had a strong hand or something.” He quickly flipped his cards over with determination. “Oh wait, I do.”
Jack raised his brow. “Wow, nicely done. I only had a pair of aces.” He admitted, revealing an ace of diamonds and a ten of clubs.
Ethan collected and stacked his chips as the next hands were dealt. “How many games have we played together now?” He cocked his head.
“Hmm,” Jack paused. “How many times have you won?”
Ethan pursed his lips and glared with half-open eyes. “Hearty har har.”
“I’m just saying. I’ve honestly lost count. We started when you were younger, so it’s been a while. Bet. three hundred.”
“Call. It feels like a lifetime ago, though.”
“Think about how I feel.” Jack giggled. “I’m what, 83? 84?”
Ethan responded softly. “You old coot, you’re only 80.”
“Only 80? I still got 30 more years left in me.” He snickered. “Check.”
Ethan merely knocked against the table.
The river plopped out. 6 of spades.
“Bet. Five hundred.” Tossing in the last of his blue chips, Jack relaxed with his arms crossed. “Whatcha gon’ do playboy?”
Ethan smirked. “I’mma call you and hit ya with a straight. Bam!” He flipped his cards over, showing a 7 of hearts and a 9 of clubs, which paired perfectly with the 6, 8, and 10 of spades in the community cards.
“Aw, you hacked the table, didn’t ya?” Jack sneered playfully.
“Maybe I just figured out your tell.” Ethan pressed the button.
“The only tell I got is gonna be when I twitch my foot up ya butt, ya punk.”
Ethan went silent. He knew his dad had a tell. His shoulder slightly jerked whenever his hand was weak, but he knew he could be prideful in some of his plays. He bluffed his way to several wins, but Ethan knew this would be his first loss. But in the depths of his mind, his inner voice whispered.
Will this be his only loss?
He looked across the table and saw that his dad only had one green chip left. The rest were in his own stack. A strange ache shook his heart, but as he locked eyes with his dad, Jack smiled and spoke softly.
“It’s ok. I wanna finish playing the game.”
Ethan matched his dad’s singular green chip as the cards were disbursed.
An ace and king of hearts. This was it.
The box shot out three cards. Jack of hearts, and a 4 and 9 of clubs.
Ethan’s heart began to race. Another card.
Queen of hearts.
His breath became shallow. His vision blurred as the box turned toward the river card’s marker.
No, no I don’t want--
“Ethan!” His dad barked.
Taken aback, he looked to his dad. With a deadpan expression, Jack commanded.
“End it, and move on, son.”
Instantly, the river card shot out and landed perfectly within the box. 10 of hearts.
Ethan’s hands shook as he fingered the cards over. “Royal Flush.”
“Well, that was shorter than our usual runs. What a hand to go out on, though.” His dad comforted Ethan, now sobbing into the fabric. “You did well, Ethan.”
“I miss you, dad.” He sniffled.
“I miss you too, son. I’ll see you tomorrow, ok?”
Ethan nodded, rubbing his cheek against the table. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
He closed his eyes as his dad disappeared. A female voice mechanically called out from the table.
“Poker Night objective complete. Broadcast, recorded August 13th, 2040, deleted from memory file.”
***The Next Day***
A cold breeze wafted through the park, gently tugging on Ethan’s black peacoat. He wiped his face clear as he spoke to Aurora by his side.
“Did you play grandpa in poker again, daddy?” She looked up at her father’s tear-stained face.
“I did, sweetie.” His voice cracked softly as he replied.
“Did you win?”
“I, uh, I did. Your daddy finally beat grandpa.”
Aurora looked down toward the ground.
“Are you gonna be ok?”
Ethan inhaled slowly and knelt toward his daughter. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” He embraced her and held her close. “Would you be ok if you hung out with mom for a little bit? I wanna talk to grandpa for a bit.”
“Sure, daddy.” She kissed him on the cheek and wandered back.
Ethan sat down on the grass, barely containing his tears. “H, hey dad. I hope you’re enjoying you’ve been enjoying your time in your new home. I hear it’s absolutely gorgeous where you are.” He gripped his coat tightly, trying to reduce his shaking. “I, um, I finally won last night, dad. It took me forever, but I finally beat ya.” He laughed softly, wiping away the tears. “I miss you so much, dad. It wasn’t the same playing last night . . . it hasn’t been the same for the past four years.”
He reached into his coat and pulled out a green poker chip. He glared at it as tears fell onto his gloved hand. He reached out and gently laid the chip against a headstone.
“Save a spot at Heaven’s table for me, ok?” He grinned bitterly. “I love you.”
