Nickel Slots Information and a story

Janice had always played the penny and nickel slots. Oh, if she won a little on those, sometimes she would search all over the ship for a quarter slot machine that only required two quarters. These were few and far between and each cruise she went on, she found fewer nickel slots and almost NO penny slots. Her limited gambling budget was going fast.

The seas were calm and it was getting dark outside. Janice had had a wonderful dinner in the main dining room of the huge cruise ship, had attended the gala Las Vegas style revue and had The Drink of the Day which was a Miami Vice. Now what? Since she was traveling alone, she did not care to go to the Disco or even sit in one of the lounges to watch the couples dance. She was tired and sunburned from her day at the Private Island owned by the cruise line. So, she went to the cabin to change into more comfortable attire. The sequins on her fancy emerald green velvet dress hurt her pulsating sunburn and the strappy little sandals she wore made the scarlet top of her instep sting. Riding up on the elevator to her cabin on the Dolphin Deck, Janice thought about reading the mystery novel she had tucked into her suitcase at the last minute. She was a fan of James Patterson and was about halfway through his newest novel. A shower and her comfy pajamas might just be what the Sunburn Doctor ordered.

She opened the door to her intimate little room and saw her soft black trousers and t-shirt lying on the bed. This is ridiculous, she thought. Here I am on my free cruise, its still early and I am thinking about going to bed? I can do that any night when I am at home! Forget that!

Janice had won the 3 day cruise in an online promotion for a soap company and her boyfriend of 3 years was deeply entrenched in a project at work. The time had slipped away from her and the deadline to use the trip was up at the end of the month. Sean, her boyfriend, had urged her to go without him and to take lots of pictures. She grudgingly agreed in spite of her uneasy feeling.. Now it was still fairly early and she had a little gambling money left. Tonight was the last night that the casino would be open so she needed to go and check it out. The casino was brightly lit and there were the sounds of bells ringing and coins dropping, even though these new machines only simulated that sound. Like slot machines all over the country, they accepted bills only and paid out in paper slips. Those could be cashed in at the CASHIER if you were disciplined but were so easy to just play on until they ran out. That was what the casinos counted on. Janice knew from her visit last night that there were no penny machines on this cruise and all of the nickel machines were occupied. She sat down at a quarter Wheel of Fortune and put in her three coins. She hit the SPIN button and it was not a winner. This went on for four spins and then, hooray! She hit a WHEEL OF FORTUNE! The familiar voice rang out, WHEEL OFFORTUNE and the famous wheel started to spin. Around and around it went and the final stop was on 1000 quarters!

Janice was elated! She mentally added up her winnings while the machine was registering it. $250 dollars! Janice played a bit longer and won a few more small payoffs but no more WHEELOFFORTUNE was forthcoming. Janice still had her slip for her big win. She was beginning to yawn and was thinking of going to bed when she heard a lot of commotion behind her. She turned her head to see a crowd clapping and shouting as another passenger hit 3 blue 7s on the dollar machine! The payoff was $1000 and the woman was grinning from ear to ear. Everyone was congratulating her and the attendant was counting out the 10 hundred dollar bills so that all could hear.

Janice saw the woman get up from the machine. What could it hurt, she thought. I have this $250 that is found money and I can just play for a little while. When the woman took her winnings and left, Janice moved into the empty seat. The cool leather seat was still warm from the previous occupant. The machine felt warm as well. What are the chances of another big win on this machine? Janice asked herself. Almost casually, she slipped her winning $250 paper into the slot. She hit the spin button and. First one, then another blue 7 came on the screen. Would it happen again? Was she to be a winner?

Just as the third blue 7 began to come into view, the ship lurched, the power on the machine went off and machines, tables, chairs, glasses and mirrors came crashing to the floor. The ship had had a steering problem and had suddenly begun to tip 30 degrees to the starboard side! The coast guard rescued Janice and all the passengers and her money was the least of anyone's worries. The bets that were in play at the time of the accident were lost but that paled in view of 5 lost lives and multiple injuries. Janice was not injured. She lost her luggage, her credit cards and ID and her cell phone but she was physically unharmed. She recounted the story to Sean and in doing, she burst into tears. I just know, she said, that I was winning that $1000, but I am thankful to be alive!

Janice will have another chance to try her luck. The cruise line awarded her another 3 day cruise with a $300 shipboard credit. This time she would be taking Sean, her good luck charm.

It Wasn't Meant to Be

By Mildred