At a small card table in the Dallas suburb of Trophy Club, four old friends sat around and talked while playing cards. These four old friends had played poker at least once a month since they had been in High School in the late 70's. They had met in detention their freshman year and became the best of friends.

Tony laughed as he shuffled the cards. As he dealt them out he asked, "So, Tom do you think,the Governor is going to be elected President?'

Tom downed his fourth Cuba Libra of the night and said, " I sure do hope so, as much money as I've given him and time I've invested in his campaign, I can't afford for him to lose."

Jimbo Allen looked at his cards and asked Tony , "The Governor going to help you with that little Stock problem you have Tom?"

Hank Thompson said, "Now Jimbo, you know we agreed over 20 years ago not to talk business at these poker games. We both know you wouldn't want us to ask how your last album sold."

Tony Matlock looked at his cards and thought, "I can't believe the four of us are still playing poker together. I mean just look at the four of us, Tom Lucas is a high dollar Austin lawyer now, going to them big fancy dinners with the Governor and throwing money around like it was longnecks (if longneck's is a place it should be capitalized along with the apostrophy in it) on a Friday night in Ft. Worth. Jimbo Allen was the CMS singer of the year about 10 years ago and the hottest thing in Texas music since Willie Nelson. Of course there's old Hank Thompson still a small town deputy back in Nomocotton, Texas. Life aint done much for him but he seems happy. I guess I am the most successful of the bunch, that little website ideal paid off better than a crooked politician caught on film". He said, "ok, I will open for Hundred buck, How many cards do yall want?"

Tom looked down at the two queens he was holding and said, "I will see your openers, Give me three cards." As he waited for his cards he couldn't help but wonder if Tony knew that the Bexar County District Attorney was preparing to indict him on that stock swindle. He hoped Governor Rawlings won the election so he could get the pardon he paid for.

Jimbo took a long drink of his beer, looked down at his cards and said, "Give me one, and for a change make it the right one." As he slid his money into the pot he thought, "If I win this pot it will be more money than I have made off my last three albums."

Hank glanced over at Jimbo and thought, "He sure has lost a lot of money tonight and drunk a ton of beer. Maybe I should offer to drive him home tonight." He took one more quick glance at his cards and said, "Give me two", as he pushed his openers into the center of the table.

Tony said, "I'll stand on these but it's gonna cost yall big time to see them."

Tom glanced over at Tony and said, "You sure are proud of them cards. I can remember when a big bet at this table was two dollars. I'll tell you what, it's going on 11 o'clock at night, so lets make this the last hand of the game. It's my bet, so I'm going to bet two hundred dollars American Cash." He laughed and looked over at Hank and said, "No checks Deputy."

Jimbo smiled and said, "I don't remember the last time cheap Tom actually opened his wallet. I'll see that two hundred and bump you another two hundred."

Hank asked, "Jimbo aint you going to look at your card?"

Jimbo laughed, "Nope, I am going to trust lady luck and Tony's shuffling. I figure it's about time for my luck to change."

Hank said, "Ok Jimbo, its your money. But this pot is too rich for my blood. I fold"

Tony looked around the table and said, "Juan, why don't you bring these fine gentlemen another drink. I figure since I'm about to take all your money, the least I can do is give you another free drink. I'll see that four hundred and bump you another two hundred. That's four hundred to you Tom."

Tom cleared his throat and said, "Here is four hundred, and lets go ahead and make it an even thousand."

Jimbo Looked around the table and said, "Ok, it's six hundred to me then and I'll call. Let's see what you boys got."

Tony turned over his cards one by one and said, "I got a pair Kings, Ace high."

Tom said, "That's a real pretty hand Tom, but I got two pair Ladies and sevens."

Jimbo said, "Well I guess it all depends on that last card I got. Lets see ten, jack, king, ace and the hole card is a" Jimbo flipped over his final card with a flourish "three, oh hell, I guess my luck is still running bad."

Hank stood up and said, "Good game boys, Jimbo why don't you let me give you a lift home? I've always wanted to drive that fancy Jaguar of yours."

Jimbo laughed, "Come on Hank, I know what you are thinking. Yes, I've had a few drinks but I can still drive."

Juan , the butler, asked, "Mr. Martine should I bring your guests a snack before they leave?"

Tony said, "Juan I keep telling you to call me Tony, but I don't think so. I think they are heading home."

Hank asked, "Jimbo are you sure? I don't mind running you home."

Tom drove home to his Highland Park mansion and his trophy wife. Two weeks later he was arrested for embezzlement and fraud. After highly publicized and lengthy trial he was found guilty and sentenced to ten years in Huntsville State Prison. Governor Rawlings choose not to pardon him.

After his friends left Tony wandered around his house for hours. He loved these poker games. Every since his fourth wife left him, it was the only time he was happy.

Jimbo stopped at a club on Lower Greenville on his way home. He drank and jammed with the band until two in the morning. He slammed into the concrete divider doing 120 mph while trying to exit at Northwest Hwy. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The release of his final album sold two million copies and won three Grammys. His sleazy agent lost all the proceeds during a weekend trip to Las Vegas.

Hank drove home to his two-bedroom trailer house on the outskirts of Nomocotton, Texas. His wife greeted him at the door. As she warmed his supper they discussed the game. The next morning after dropping his oldest son off at the ball field he went by the Police Station and found out that his old friend Jimbo was dead.

Hank was the only winner in the Game of Chance Known as Life.