help. His reply, “It remains to be seen.”
At least for now, my being here had no effect on the outcome of the game. Boston started fast and finished with a fury, dominating the Lakers all the way to a 148-114 victory. My mother was never a basketball enthusiast, but she whooped it louder than my father and me, put together. She jumped up and down when time ran out and the Lakers missed their final shot, guaranteeing a thirty-plus point victory. The house would have won on the odds with the margin at thirty, we needed thirty-one.
We waited expectantly for CJ to call. He made us wait
nearly two hours after the game was over. By then we had come down off the ceiling, and during the wait our euphoria began to change to one of worry. When the doorbell rang, my father nearly knocked over the table lamp, as he jumped up in surprise. “I’ll get it,” was all he said as he rushed to the door.
When he opened it, CJ was standing there. “Come on in!”
he said to him.
S 76 S
RemembeR me
“Neil, Linda, nice to see you again,” he courteously said to them as he crossed the threshold into our living room. He kept his eyes locked on mine as he casually slipped into the recliner next to the couch. “You wouldn’t happen to have anything to drink, would you?”
My father responded, “Bud or JD, take your pick.”
“Both, a shot of JD and a Bud would be most appreciated.”
My father smiled respectfully. He was never a heavy
drinker, but he too liked a shot of Jack Daniels with his beer occasionally. When he came back in the room, he carried three glasses in one hand, and the bottle of Jack Daniels tucked under his arm. With his other arm, he nestled the three bottles of Budweiser tightly to his chest. My dad was never one to make two trips if he could somehow manage it in one. Mom came to the rescue, grabbing the three bottles of beer right before one could slip out and fall to the floor.
Dad passed out the glasses and handed each of us a beer.
He took the cap off of the bottle of JD and poured each of us a two-finger shot. CJ didn’t hesitate and downed his quickly, holding out the glass for another. My dad obliged and this time gave him a generous refill. CJ set the glass on the end table next to him. He reached up with one hand and loosened the tie around his neck. Then unbuttoning his shirt collar, he slowly settled deeper into the recliner. All of our eyes were fixated on him. We waited patiently for him to speak.
You could tell that he had a lot on his mind, and he didn’t know how to put his thoughts into words. After a moment, he took a long pull on his beer and then looked directly at me.
“How sure are you about the series being a four game victory for the Lakers?”
After the score of the first game hadn’t changed from my own time, I was feeling comfortable with what I remembered.
I responded with, “Nearly absolutely sure.”
S 77 S
Brian L. MacLearn
CJ nodded at me. “The firm,” he flinched slightly with his eyes as he said it, “that took your bet was not very happy with the outcome. To be honest with you, they sniffed easy money.
The odds were still in their favor even should they lose. As you probably guessed, they didn’t do you any favors. Normally, a bet like yours would have garnered in the neighborhood of fifteen-to-one. It isn’t the fact you won that has their attention.
What has them concerned is that you are a new player who made an “out of this world” bet and won. I think you might be able to see the situation from their point of view.”
I couldn’t help but nod my head in agreement with his assertions. “I take it you are here for more than just a social visit.”
“A proposal of sorts for you to consider,” he stated matter-of-factly. “I have no reason to doubt you have an ability to foresee favorable outcomes, which could bring tremendous profits. However, prudence is now the new rule of the game.
I will not make your bet on the series; it will draw
At least for now, my being here had no effect on the outcome of the game. Boston started fast and finished with a fury, dominating the Lakers all the way to a 148-114 victory. My mother was never a basketball enthusiast, but she whooped it louder than my father and me, put together. She jumped up and down when time ran out and the Lakers missed their final shot, guaranteeing a thirty-plus point victory. The house would have won on the odds with the margin at thirty, we needed thirty-one.
We waited expectantly for CJ to call. He made us wait
nearly two hours after the game was over. By then we had come down off the ceiling, and during the wait our euphoria began to change to one of worry. When the doorbell rang, my father nearly knocked over the table lamp, as he jumped up in surprise. “I’ll get it,” was all he said as he rushed to the door.
When he opened it, CJ was standing there. “Come on in!”
he said to him.
S 76 S
RemembeR me
“Neil, Linda, nice to see you again,” he courteously said to them as he crossed the threshold into our living room. He kept his eyes locked on mine as he casually slipped into the recliner next to the couch. “You wouldn’t happen to have anything to drink, would you?”
My father responded, “Bud or JD, take your pick.”
“Both, a shot of JD and a Bud would be most appreciated.”
My father smiled respectfully. He was never a heavy
drinker, but he too liked a shot of Jack Daniels with his beer occasionally. When he came back in the room, he carried three glasses in one hand, and the bottle of Jack Daniels tucked under his arm. With his other arm, he nestled the three bottles of Budweiser tightly to his chest. My dad was never one to make two trips if he could somehow manage it in one. Mom came to the rescue, grabbing the three bottles of beer right before one could slip out and fall to the floor.
Dad passed out the glasses and handed each of us a beer.
He took the cap off of the bottle of JD and poured each of us a two-finger shot. CJ didn’t hesitate and downed his quickly, holding out the glass for another. My dad obliged and this time gave him a generous refill. CJ set the glass on the end table next to him. He reached up with one hand and loosened the tie around his neck. Then unbuttoning his shirt collar, he slowly settled deeper into the recliner. All of our eyes were fixated on him. We waited patiently for him to speak.
You could tell that he had a lot on his mind, and he didn’t know how to put his thoughts into words. After a moment, he took a long pull on his beer and then looked directly at me.
“How sure are you about the series being a four game victory for the Lakers?”
After the score of the first game hadn’t changed from my own time, I was feeling comfortable with what I remembered.
I responded with, “Nearly absolutely sure.”
S 77 S
Brian L. MacLearn
CJ nodded at me. “The firm,” he flinched slightly with his eyes as he said it, “that took your bet was not very happy with the outcome. To be honest with you, they sniffed easy money.
The odds were still in their favor even should they lose. As you probably guessed, they didn’t do you any favors. Normally, a bet like yours would have garnered in the neighborhood of fifteen-to-one. It isn’t the fact you won that has their attention.
What has them concerned is that you are a new player who made an “out of this world” bet and won. I think you might be able to see the situation from their point of view.”
I couldn’t help but nod my head in agreement with his assertions. “I take it you are here for more than just a social visit.”
“A proposal of sorts for you to consider,” he stated matter-of-factly. “I have no reason to doubt you have an ability to foresee favorable outcomes, which could bring tremendous profits. However, prudence is now the new rule of the game.
I will not make your bet on the series; it will draw
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