A Story of Wanderlust, Gambling and Adulthood Part 3

By CJ

Were going home, aren’t we. I said. It was not a question, but a statement that neither one of us had put voice to as of yet.

I reckon so, he finally admitted, hanging his head a little as though he felt our trip had been an utter failure, but I don’t see why we cant have a little fun on the way.

We searched for and found our best, wrinkled but clean clothing, and before I knew it we were standing inside a casino and a drink was being pressed into my hand by a waitress.

What do you want to do? My husband asked me, and then before I could answer he placed a twenty-dollar bill in my hand and made his way directly to the craps gambling table. It was some two hours later when I realized that I had fed the entire twenty dollars into nickel slot machines. My husband found his way to my side, and clutching my arm he led me outside.

We’re in trouble. He said flatly. I don’t know what happened, but I lost more than I thought I would, maybe I lost track I had the gambling money in this pocket, he patted his hip, and the traveling money in another pocket and well, were broke! He finished with an exasperated sigh.

Broke? I sputtered. You mean completely broke?

Well, not entirely, but there’s no way we will have enough to get back to Texas no way. Or even enough to live on if we decide to stay here.

Despite the look of utter hopelessness on his face, I felt a calm come over me. I had been in this place before this wasn’t my first rodeo, and thanks to my first husband, I knew what to do.

It’ll be all right. I said as we walked to the truck. Ill never forget the sight of the casino as we pulled away, the place where we willingly went and left our traveling money behind, all in the name of fun. My husband was inconsolable. If he had felt a failure before, he felt it doubly so now.

It’ll be all right. I kept saying, while he argued with me.

How can you say that? He demanded. We have enough to make it to Arizona, if were lucky. You heard my mother -- they can’t help us. Were on our own!

There are ways I began " just point this truck toward Texas, well make it. We have food, a good vehicle and some money, and I’ve made it a lot farther with a lot less.

My husband knew something about my first marriage, knew that it had been a struggle and that I had seen some hard times. Now he was going to experience what I had firsthand.