THE GAMBLER
GAMBLING
I AM VERY WARY OF GAMBLING
AS A TEENAGER I USED TO PLAY THE ‘FRUITIES’ IN THE PUB
WHEN I WAS OLD ENOUGH TO DRINK
I FOUND MYSELF DOING BOTH
AFTER ONE SESSION ON THE MACHINE
MY FRIEND ASKED ME
“HOW MUCH DID YOU PUT IN THERE”
“DUNNO, ABOUT TWELVE QUID”
“WE’RE IN A PUB; THAT’S FOUR PINTS YOU COULD HAVE HAD.”
YES IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.
MORE IMPORTANTLY; I HAVE NEVER GAMBLED SINCE.
I AM STRICTLY AN ALCOHOLIC.