A Pint of Blood

We were so broke Jerome, one of my two roommates, staggered to his feet and said, 'I'm going down to the blood plasma place and sell a pint of my blood. That'll get me $35.'

Richard, our other roommate, agreed. I put up my hand in protest.

'There's no need for you to sell your blood,' I said. 'How much money do you have?'

He fished through his pockets. 'About three dollars,' he said.

I produced a $5 and two crinkled ones. 'That's fine. Your three and my $7 make $10. That's enough for a buy-in at the Union Plaza's $1-3 stud game.'

Jerome handed me his three dollars, said, 'Good luck,' and went back to bed.

I emerged from the house feeling like Richard the Lionhearted.

My other two roommates, Jerome and Richard, had moved in with me a week earlier. All of us were down on our luck, but we felt our chances were better by hanging together. Richard was an assistant music minister in a nearby church and Jerome was simply his best friend.

Our house was two blocks off the Strip and about three blocks from Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas. I was a pretty good $7 card stud player. The buy-in was $10 and the ante was a quarter per player. I knew the other old players at the Union Plaza were tight with their money. it would be a good fight to get their cash and keep Jerome from selling his blood.

There was one seat open at the table when I arrived. I slid into the seat and purchased my 10 white chips. We all anted a quarter.

Two hours later I had $60 in chips piled up in front of me. By 3 p.m., I was up $300 and by midnight, I was hidden behind a white wall of chips that totaled over $1,000.

Around 12:30 a.m., Jerome and Richard showed up. By then I was winners over $1,300. They burst into a round of applause. i quickly cut up the money three ways and slipped myself an extra hundred. They didn't object.

'I guess I don't have to donate my blood,' said Jerome cheerfully as he tucked away his money.

I said, 'Let's celebrate.'

And we did. We went to the famous Palomino Bar in north Las Vegas. The club features some of the most beautiful nude dancers in the world. That night we drank good beer and tipped the girls to dance for us. We had a great time.

From then on, luck picked up on us. Richard was hired by another church to handle their music industry and Jerome got a job with a check-cashing business. I began winning poker tournaments and my bankroll improved to the point where I could afford to move out.

On the day I left, we gathered together in the living room. Over a six-pack of beer, we swore allegiance and agreed to meet again, like the Three Musketeers, if any of us needed help.

'All for one and one for all,' I sang out, hoisting my beer. 'And not a drop of blood to spare,' added Jerome with a wink.

Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.

(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).