BOOKIE

It was the hottest days of the year, just how I like it. Tensions run high for most in this climate, and personally that’s an environment in which I thrive. People make poor decisions when they’re stressed, and I love that. So, I set Stella up to rattle her own house of cards.

“I don’t care if it’s a lock, Stella” Cate grunted quietly but as emphatically as she could to not draw the attention of other spectators. “It’s always ‘a lock’ with you. Except that it never is.¨

¨Cate it's only $20. I´m going to turn it into more money. It´s a lock! Guaranteed. ¨ Stella retorted.

¨ What’s locked is the strangle hold your addiction seems to have on you. You run on about needing money for school expenses to dad as if you need all that money for school. You press mom for spare cash whenever you can. Hell, now you’re hounding me for $20? You’re my older sister- I should be coming to you for money. Besides, it's not just $20 because you always go around to someone else for more¨

¨That's not fair, I have never asked you for money. And I figured it´d be ok, seeing as how I changed your diapers growing up. You kind of owe me¨ Stella teased.

¨Oh no, you can´t manipulate me with that. We´re even. You know you shouldn´t even be here after last week. ¨

¨Last week was just a bad day. The horses can be off sometimes, that’s part of it. But winning is too if you roll the dice! ¨

¨You know what your problem is? It's not an unlucky day, it's not any of the horses. The problem is you’re in too deep to realize that you’re in way over your head. You keep waiting for this big score that’s going to put you in the black and it never comes. Its never a lock. 20 bucks isn’t easy for me to come by, or our parents.¨

“It's coming today! Beelzebub has a hell of a shot at winning and the odds are very rewarding if I place a bet on him! It’s a lock!”

¨You’re locked on sinking us, all of us, with you. I’m saying this because I know you, and I love you. ¨

“Don’t be like that. Think about it like this. Don’t look at it as giving me 20 dollars, think about it like you’re turning your 20 dollars into 40 bucks. After the race is over, you’ll get double your investment. You won’t even realize it’s gone! It’ll be like you found another 20 dollars!” Stella tried to sell it as best she could, but the best acting in the world could not deliver that speech convincingly. Stella could see the doubt on Cate’s face, probably because the same sentiment had been regurgitated by her numerous times. “This isn’t going to be like last week. That was a weird day, a bunch of horses were well off their marks, not just mine. I was not the only one losing that day. You wouldn’t believe how much John lost! But today’s my day I can feel it, and if I stop now while I’m down I know I’m going to lose a big score.”

¨Get a grip, your path to success is not here on the track. Let's just go home, you’re at the end of your bank and I don’t even want to be here. Or do I have to tell mom and dad where you really take me on the weekends?”

“Oof, tough vibe check.” Stella’s voice cracked under the weight of Cate’s truth. “Ok, let me just run to the can, then we can head home. You roasted the crap out of me.”

Stella hung her head low as she walked away from the conversation demoralized and defeated, but not for long. This is the kind of position I like to test people in because they tend to fail miserably when they’re that low. If they can’t keep their chin up, I put temptation by their feet. Then I prowl around the prey until the time is right to devour them.

While Stella was dropping her bombs, I dropped mine. As she went to wash her hands, she found the free cheese I left in the mouse trap.

I love to make the bait tempting while ambiguous. Just under the sink, right next to the trash, she noticed my little black book I left for her. The cover reads "Do NOT Open" in bold, maroon letters. Under the title is a long list of various initials that have been crossed out from the previous fools I´ve lent it out to. I even let some of them write closing notes on the cover, such as ¨blood money", ¨arm and a leg¨, or ¨avoid at all costs¨ because I find it funny when humans are tempted by things that they should´t have or do. I can´t knock it, I get my thrills off watching humans indulge in their vices- or at least the part when it blows up in their face.

She opened my book to read the not-so-subtle title ¨ The Big Score: A Losers Guide to Winning¨ and gave out a chuckle. I reveled in seeing that grin drop to a face of contemplation as she read the contents. My ledger had a detailed and accurate list of all upcoming races results. And, to be sure she humored the idea of its accuracy, I included the past few days of racing so she could cross reference the past races with what's in my book to see that I´m all about the details and I always get them right. First place all the way down to last place is correctly listed. It’s a gambling woman's fantasy, but to be sure she would use the bait I left tackle with it. As she flipped through it eagerly, a 20-dollar bill fell out of the book. ¨This is too good to be true!" she exclaimed. It feels so sweet when they're on the money about that.

¨Screw it" Stella said as she walked out of the bathroom. ¨It's $20 I didn´t have, why not risk it? ¨ She leaves the bathroom and explains to Cate she needs to try one more bet before they head out.

Stella took the $20 and followed her hunch on Beelzebub as the odds were 16 to 1 and I predicted he would win. It’s a safe bet if you ask me, and she ended up netting $340. ¨Oh my God! Thank you, God!!¨ she exclaimed, although I'm not sure why she is thanking Him when it was all me. ¨This book is heaven sent" she thought, although she couldn’t have been further from the truth.

After her win, she pleaded with Cate to stay for ¨one more race¨ and took all her winnings to bet again. She opened the book, and her look of bewilderment was priceless. A new word was exposed and reiterated on pages she had already seen. ¨Train¨ was written on the borders all over the pages now, with my footer ¨Mammon¨ under each one. It’s a bit on the nose but I like to give others a chance to grow wise because it makes their demise more savory when they refuse to save themselves.

Of course, she read the warning and didn´t strain herself thinking about it too much. ¨Send train! It’s a sign, I have got to send it!!¨

¨Wait a minute, you just made plenty of money. Why don’t we leave while you're ahead?" Cate tried to warn.

¨Who could quit when they´re up this much! I have a hot hand right now. I have to go all in today! It's my day, I can feel it. ¨

¨I just don't want you to end up paying an arm and a leg to maybe score¨

¨Don't worry, I'm not going to lose anything! ¨

She wasn't going to lose anything. In fact, she kept taking her winnings and flipping them. One more race turned into another and they ended up spending the whole day there. On the train ride home, Stella counted over $20,000. However, Cate came up short.

¨What did I tell you? I said I was not going to lose anything! You have to keep the faith ¨ Stella boasted smugly.

¨I just worry you put your faith in the wrong things. You won, but you did it in a sleezy way¨ Cate lamented.

¨What do you mean! I did it scot free. No pockets were harmed in the making of my fortune. ¨

¨Right. ¨

¨What the hell are you going on about? ¨

¨I suppose the $20 for your first bet came out of nowhere¨ Cate retorted.

¨I found them! I told you this already. Scout's honor¨ Stella joked.

¨Yeah well, you weren´t a scout. How convenient is it that around the same time my $20 go missing out of my purse you find $20?¨

¨I didn´t steal your money! ¨

¨Right, I'm sure somebody else did and you magically happened to have the $20 you were hoping for just as mine went missing. Well, you made your money. The least you could do is shoot me those $40 you promised me¨

¨AHA! You´re funny sis. That deal was contingent on you putting in. You don't get money for nothing! I don’t give handouts. ¨

¨But you're ok with getting them? Clearly, you're ok with 5 finger discounts! ¨ Shouted Cate as she stormed off their train.

¨I didn't steal a God damn thing from you¨ Stella said as she grabbed Cate.

¨All the same, you have over 20k on you, what's the harm? You won't miss it and I don´t get paid much or often¨

¨No. You didn´t want to help me, now help yourself¨ Stella rebuked.

¨I will" retorted Cate as she lunged towards Stellas bag.

¨Get off! ¨ Stella shouted as she shoved Cate. The push ended up sending Cate off the platform and onto the tracks, knocked unconscious. A train was coming in red-hot and it was too late for Stella to do anything except scream. A red mist of blood soaked Stella and covered her hands in her sister's blood. Stella could hear her sister yelling in agony, clearly awake now but surely wishing she were dead. The train unloaded and exposed Cate. She was missing her right arm and right leg where the train had mangled them. Had the train cut them off clean, she would probably be dead. Instead, she suffered with the wounds. Some toes, fingers and other parts of the hand and foot could be found. They were propelled by the momentum of the train a few yards away. Cate gave a blood curdling ¨My hand! My foot!!¨ when she saw the severed parts sitting across the tracks and beyond her crippled reach. Ultimately, nothing reattached to her mutilated limbs which leaked like crimped water hoses.

I must hand it to myself, my book is tried but it remains true. Some wonder how my usual tricks can falter humanity still, but I am a crafty devil. Stella´s stomach dropped at the sight of her sister as mine rumbled at the fumble of her indulgence. She became frightened and wary of my book, as if it had not tried to warn her. But did she use it again? Of course, they ALL use it again. People know things are bad for them, but that naughty rush is enticement enough to do it anyways until it´s too late. Everything has a cost, and you ultimately must give me what´s due. I´m always eager to collect. If legal tender is an issue, Ill charge you in some way. Remember that next time you´re tempted to pick up my little black book. That will make it much more rich when you reach for it. Make sure to carry a long spoon.