The only game you ever played at all of the smokey casinos he dragged you to was the penny slot machine Wizard of Oz. You would search it out, knowing that Glynda the good witch would reward you with at least $30, feeling comfortable because you knew the rules of this particular game, and how to play. Sometimes he tried to make you play cards with him, but you were usually fuzzy from wine by then and the arbitrary strict rules and disapproving looks of the real gamblers made you feel stupid and inept. So back to Oz where there was at least a modicum of safety. The huge casinos were so intimidating, and he left you to yourself much of the time, so you wandered around a lot people watching and trying not to inhale the insane amounts of cigarette smoke. You never thought that a girl like you would be in a place like that, but you wanted to spend time with him and that was the only way to do it.
The biggest gamble you took was to leave your last relationship because you were so attracted to him. Or maybe it was simply time to get out and he was just an excuse. Still, you put all your cards on the table and tried to play his game for two years, even when the rules changed constantly and you basically felt like you were lost in the streets of the Emerald City much of the time, confused by the mood swings and his Great and Powerful facade.
Maybe it was Glynda who gently pulled you out of there and sent you back Home, where you finally feel normal again. No more smoke filled casinos, obsessing over wins and losses, no more six hour drives just to be left alone in a hotel room watching Law and Order SVU. Like Dorothy meandering through an odd and terrifying landscape, you did what you had to do to get back to where you belong. And now the only games you are going to play are Scrabble and Monopoly with friends on game night. The next time you play someone's game, it might be better to learn the rules first.
No comments:
Post a Comment