“What in the heck is he grinning about? That last call cost me some big bucks. There he stands looking like a big old doofus!”. Mack’s white knuckles held the railing as he sputtered to no one in particular. He was not happy about the smiling referee’s “incomplete pass” ruling in the end zone. Now Mack’s team had lost the game.
How was he going to tell Lois that he’d lost his wager at the football field? The bet was equal to exactly two house payments. Maybe he could try that quickie loan place to see if he could get just enough to keep this from his hard-working wife. Maybe Mack should look for a job. Naw, that was a bit extreme. Mack got his government check the first of every month and between his check and Lois’s job at the library, they could make ends meet. He’d been retired four months and had found an exciting new pastime! Mack spent hours each day studying the odds for the hockey, football and even chess games being played.
It had been pretty darned easy learning to place wagers on the outcomes of these games. After his first big win on the hockey game last month, he decided this was really easy money! The next couple of chess games he’d bet on weren’t quite so profitable, in fact he’d lost a couple hundred dollars on those. This football game was supposed to be about recovering some losses. The team he’d studied was favored to win. The odds were in his favor by a long shot.
“I bet those officials get paid off. Yup, they’re a bunch of crooked chumps! There should be a law against that kind of corruption. They’re probably lining their pockets with bribe money.” Some of the fans looked at Mack as his mumbling became louder. The final whistle was blowing as the winning team cheered and danced onto the field. Half of the bleachers cheered along with the victors while the other half left the stands in silence.
Mack took the long way home and circled his block twice before pulling into the driveway. Lois was already home from work and sitting on the porch with her feet up. She’d been mentioning lately that her feet were getting sorer after working a full shift. Smiling at her husband as he trudged up the stairs she chirped, “Hi Honey, how was your day? Do you feel okay? You look beat. Do you think we could go out for dinner tonight. I’m worn out from work today. My feet hurt.”
“Lois honey, I need to talk to you about something and we’d better eat at home tonight.”
How was he going to tell Lois that he’d lost his wager at the football field? The bet was equal to exactly two house payments. Maybe he could try that quickie loan place to see if he could get just enough to keep this from his hard-working wife. Maybe Mack should look for a job. Naw, that was a bit extreme. Mack got his government check the first of every month and between his check and Lois’s job at the library, they could make ends meet. He’d been retired four months and had found an exciting new pastime! Mack spent hours each day studying the odds for the hockey, football and even chess games being played.
It had been pretty darned easy learning to place wagers on the outcomes of these games. After his first big win on the hockey game last month, he decided this was really easy money! The next couple of chess games he’d bet on weren’t quite so profitable, in fact he’d lost a couple hundred dollars on those. This football game was supposed to be about recovering some losses. The team he’d studied was favored to win. The odds were in his favor by a long shot.
“I bet those officials get paid off. Yup, they’re a bunch of crooked chumps! There should be a law against that kind of corruption. They’re probably lining their pockets with bribe money.” Some of the fans looked at Mack as his mumbling became louder. The final whistle was blowing as the winning team cheered and danced onto the field. Half of the bleachers cheered along with the victors while the other half left the stands in silence.
Mack took the long way home and circled his block twice before pulling into the driveway. Lois was already home from work and sitting on the porch with her feet up. She’d been mentioning lately that her feet were getting sorer after working a full shift. Smiling at her husband as he trudged up the stairs she chirped, “Hi Honey, how was your day? Do you feel okay? You look beat. Do you think we could go out for dinner tonight. I’m worn out from work today. My feet hurt.”
“Lois honey, I need to talk to you about something and we’d better eat at home tonight.”
