The Broken Gambler
The day that the broken gambler accepted God in to his heart, everyone in the town was listening for the chapel bells. In the Casino the men had all stopped. All except one man, the one who had lent him the last dollar; the dollar which the gambler threw away on a pair of ones. Dropping his drink on the floor the gambler walked out and went straight to the chapel, straight to the priest, to tell him of his intentions. His friend just stared in disbelief at the time. Now as everyone stands in silence waiting for the chapel bells he throws a seven without looking up. The men have all gathered by the window, the few standing outside, or by the doors, can hear the music coming from inside the church. A woman walking to the store with her children stops, the music reminding her of the day. Inside the chapel the pews are lined with the noon-time believers. The choir has never sounded so beautiful. The preacher who wanted to strike fire with this sermon is as humbled as the gamblers, who have mostly moved outside now to wait. People in the street have stopped and watched, so the only sound which can be heard is the occasional light sound of the choir. A wolf howls in the distance, as one of the men begins to cry. As the mass gets up to accept communion, the howls of the man have come to match the howls of the wolf. The men around him stand in silence. The man in the casino throws a six. The noon-time worshipers continue their steady progress up to the front. "The body of Christ," "Amen." Many of the townsfolk are surrounding the chapel, standing in silence. The men from the Casino all stand close to each other with the one in their middle on the ground wailing. In the distance more wolves begin to howl, as the pack devour the prey which they have come upon in the woods. The man in the casino rolls another six. The choir's voices all raise towards the heavens. The woman with her child hides her tears, and looks back at her house. One of her children is crying, pulling on her skirt, the other is watching the wailing man silently. As the man in the casino is given his money he flips over the table. He reaches for a glass and throws it against the wall. The broken gambler kneels before the priest. The wolves howl in the distance. The man in the casino attacks the man at the craps table, beating him bloody while the other workers try to pull him off. The man on the ground keeps screaming. "The body of Christ." The wolves rip the flesh from the prey. "Amen." They howl some more. The gambler opens his mouth in acceptance. The woman looks at the chapel in fear, almost as if to run, but with her children pulling at her skirt, holding her back. The choir stops singing. The man is dragged from the casino, struggling and screaming. The broken gambler takes a sip of the wine. He bows his head in regret. The people in the streets stand in silence. All that can be heard are the chapel bells ringing, and two men screaming. As loud as they can.
- By Brad Gardner