Ever think what happens when we achieve these goals? We climb the ladder step by step but when we reach our next target surely the happiness from doing that can only last so long and then we need to find a new target to get that happy high again. Is happiness an innate drug? Are we all addicted to being happy? Can you buy happiness? In other words become happy from material things or is the only way true happiness can be achieved is for us to naturally feel happy and not become happy.
For Jack Davis all that seemed to bring a smile to his face was the ringing of the winner bells in the casino, gambling was his poison. His wife and kids left him a year ago because his addiction was spiraling out of control to the point where he gambled the college fund for the kids and inevitably lost it all. He would steal from his wife's purse also and even guys from work whenever he had a chance and all for that endorphin release he would get when his risk paid off and he returned home a winner.
Nightly he would head down to The Paradise Casino or heading to paradise as he facetiously would say before listening to what he had said in his head and feeling like an idiot for saying it. He would fancy his chances at most games but stayed away from poker claiming that there are "too many good liars in a casino" in his deep late night radio edited toned voice. Blackjack was normally what he would settle with, no alcohol needed this required a clear head - "a clear head for a clear conscious" was another one of his casino bubbled life sayings.
Surprisingly he was not a premium member he stuck with the basic membership, maybe it was his was of being in denial about how deep they had their hooks in him. As he sat there one night doing his usual chat so much that the others would be distracted, in walked a new dealer - dark green suit with green tie and shoes, he had a swagger about him and glint in his eye. His aura was enchanting as he gave the five people playing a wink before dealing out the cards, he spoke in an Irish-American accent but it was raspy with a sort of echo too it.
As the night progressed there was only two guys left, Jack and another local casino-goer that didn't wanna go home. The dealer asked if they were given a chance to have one thing back in their lives what would it be "The last few hours of listening to you" said the down and out, "Probably my family" replied Jack, "Oh Christ" mumbled back the other guy whilst shaking his head at the floor. The dealer explained that there is a way to do this but he needed their permission to do so "That's it i'm outta here, I dunno what kind of nutjobs they hire in here at all lately" out stormed the man sitting beside Jack. Standing there shuffling the cards the dealer leans over and says "So Jack, just me and you, what do you say? Wanna try and win your happiness back?" Jack hesitated for a few seconds before reluctantly saying " Whatever it's late and I am up nothing just do it i'm in, whatever"
A different deck of cards were pulled out by the dealer and dealt to Jack " A one off game, if you win you get your wish, if not the game gets its wish" the dealer explained to a tired looking Jack. He received a card which was a 9 of hearts "hit me" said Jack who got another - a 7 of spades, "hmmmm hit me again" Jack got one more which turned out to be a 5 of spades "Yesssss" shouted a happy Jack who sat up from his seat. "21 well done fella, now all you gotta do is hope that I don't match that in less cards and you get your family back" The dealer flipped over the first card , 10 of diamonds. Jack started biting his nails, a habit he stopped when he was a child but this brought back all the same nervous reactions that he got when watching his favorite wrestler on TV back in the day.
As the green suited dealer prepared to turn over the last card Jack could hear the winner bells go off from a machine behind him while he was picturing Christmas dinner as a family again. The dealers hand hovered over the card before slowly turning it to reveal an...Ace. " An ace can be 1 or 11 Jack and I think I am gonna choose 11 here" said the dealer with a smirk on his face. Jack's face dropped he was in disbelief, how did this happen he thought before claiming that it was a fix all along and he was never gonna win which wasn't denied either by the dealer who continued to smirk at him while shuffling cards. "The rules were set out Jack, the game won and now you have to deal with the consequences" , Jack was worried and intrigued " Yeah and what are the consequences".
It was tomorrow night Jack was heading to the Paradise Casino or heading to paradise as he would facetiously say before instantly regretting it and feeling ashamed of himself. He sat down to play his favorite blackjack as he disliked poker "Too many liars in a casino" he claimed as he chatted to the other blackjacks players, this was his tactic. In walked a man who was a new dealer, he was dressed in a green suit and had a matching tie and shoes to go with it, he also had a charm to him that would make you take note of his presence. As the night went on it was just Jack and another guy remaining when the dealer lent over and asked quietly "What is the one thing you would have back in your lives" The other guy left and Jack played.
Six months ago Jack died in his home of heartbreak and loneliness, he is now stuck in an endless loop of going to this casino and every night the same actions occur, he plays blackjack, dealer walks in and offers him a chance to get happiness and he loses. All he has to do is change one of these actions or not play the game and follow the guy next to him by saying no and leaving but he is still trying to buy happiness, a lesson that killed him in the first place. Paradise Casino as it's known to some but to others it's Purgatory.
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