Let it Ride

 

CHAPTER ONE

Knock knock knock. The sound of my home life changing. I hadn't even told my wife yet. I didn't want her to shut it down. I knew once he was here she would just go with it to avoid causing a scene. Now that the moment is here I fear the tongue lashing I will receive. He's my best friend. He's just gambled away his marriage. He has nowhere else to go. This is his all time low. I don't have a choice. 

As I snap back to the reality that I need to answer the door my wife is already on her way. I rush past her like George Costanza fleeing a burning building. I open the door. I knew he was in bad shape, but I wasn't prepared for the blob of broken dreams on my door step. He had misery in his eyes and alcohol on his breath. "Jason what are you doing here?" Martha- "He's here to talk about a business idea honey. Sorry I forgot to tell you." She said ok, but the look on her face told me she knew there was more to it. If the backpack didn't scream red flag I'm sure the shakiness in my voice didn't suppress suspicion. I don't know why I said that. I guess I wanted to get him settled in first and drop the bomb on her privately. Our guest room had become her home gym and by home gym I meant room with a yoga mat and pelaton. That left my office/mancave. It wasn't much, but it had TV, a couch and a mini fridge. A welcome sight to a man crashing back into bachelorhood. After I settled in Jason I told him I'd come back to check in with him after I talked with Martha. I headed back downstairs to finish dinner with the kids while dodging death stares from Martha. Her gaze was focused on me like the Eye of Sauron. The instant our kids finished their last bite she sent them to their rooms. It was time to man up and explain. We sat in silence for a few more seconds before I ripped the bandaid and blurted "Sharon kicked him out so I told him he could stay here for a while."
"You what ?! How could you invite an addict to stay in our home and be around our kids ?!" Martha
"It was just gambling gone wrong Martha not drugs and he's my best friend. I want to help him."
"He gambled away his career and his marriage. You can't help the helpless Joe" Martha- "I have to try. He's like my brother. This won't be permanent. Just till I help him find a new job and get his own place." "You don't get it. Gambling is a disease. I don't want him infecting you and sucking you back into that world." Martha -
"Honey you know I don't even play poker or bet sports anymore. I just want to help my friend restart his life. Nothing more." "Ok but, If I find out you're gambling again I'm kicking you both out. I mean it Joe. Help him then get him out. " Martha-
Well at least the worst was over I thought to myself as a pillow hit me in the back of the head. Martha's way of telling me I was demoted to the couch. Normally if I was in the doghouse I'd at least have my man cave, but tonight I couldn't even have that. 

A couple weeks went by and Jason still hadn't found a job. He seemed to be in a better place mentally so I didn't think it would be too much longer. It was a Sunday in October which meant a full day of football watching. I grabbed a 12 pack and a bag of hot fries and headed up to meet Jason in the man cave. As the games went on he was increasingly more animated to the point I felt my stomach sink. I didn't want to, but I had to ask. "Do you have money on any of the games?" "No of course not. I don't even have money to bet." Jason- That I could believe as he had previously told me he lost everything in a private high stakes poker game. "I'm just excited about my fantasy team. That's all" Jason- another plausible reason. So I let it go. Mid way through the afternoon games he couldn't contain it any longer. He had to share with me what was up. He had entered a $20 daily fantasy tournament which held a first place prize of 1 million dollars. We used to brainstorm our line ups together every week for it before my wife banned me from all types of "gambling". Under the circumstances he didn't want me to know he was still getting his fix through fantasy sports. The only thing he could afford a hit of is what my wife would say I'm sure. Well as fate would have it he was currently in 3rd place with a couple players still remaining that were different from the remaining players of the two teams ahead of him. This meant he had a legitimate chance to win the whole thing. I couldn't believe it. I considered myself an expert in fantasy sport knowledge and yet I had never come close to scoring a life changing payout over the years I tried. We were both standing for the rest of the afternoon. This was the biggest sweat of my life and it was done vicariously through my friend who's head was still resting on rock bottom. The games started to end until there was one game left. He had fallen to 14th which meant he had next to no chance at the top prize with just one player remaining. It was still exciting though as he was in position for a sizeable payout. Then, it happened. With just seconds remaining and the Packers down 6 Aaron Rodgers threw up a hail marry as only he can. The ball was batted down by one of the safeties. It bounced off the ground and into the hands of Marquez Valdes-Scantling who happened to be Jasons last remaining player. "Ahh so close !!" He shouted. As I asked him what his final payout ended up being we noticed MVS celebrating in the endzone. There was a moment of confusion as the game was over. Then came the replay which showed the ball being knocked down by the defender, but off a shoe and into the hands of MVS without ever touching the ground. Unbelievable. Just Unbelievable. We both looked at each other before giving a high five that would make Barney Stinson proud. He checked his phone to see he had jumped up into 2nd. No one ahead of him had MVS on their roster. 2nd place paid out over 300k. To add to this series of unfathomable events the Packers missed the extra point sending the game into OT. Only one question remained. "How many points are you behind first?" "11...." he replied in disbelief. 11 points meant if MVS could somehow end up with 50 yards and another TD in OT he would earn himself 1 million dollars thanks to the ppr format.

Packers won the toss. Jason's hands were shaking. The game going to OT did give him a chance to take home first, but it also opened the door for him to slide back down the rankings as other teams behind him had players remaining in this game. The returner took the kick out of the endzone and returned it all the way to the opposing teams 30 yard line. This meant the optimal outcome for MVS was catching a 30 yard TD which would earn him 10 points and 1 shy of first. The door for him sliding back down the ranks was still open. He then headed for the bathroom. He couldn't watch anymore. What happened next I'll never forget for as long as I live. First play was a toss to Aaron Jones who scampers to the endzone untouched, but wait. A holding penalty on the offense brought the ball back to the 40. Now it was 1st and 20. Rodgers pass fell incomplete. 2nd and 20 from the 40. The snap goes over Rodgers head! He was able to fall on it, but not before losing another 11 yards. Now they were backed up to their own 49 for a 3rd and 31. Rodgers takes the snap. Surveys the field. Steps up in the pocket before heaving up a prayer deep down the sideline. The corner and MVS get their feet tangled just before the ball arrives. The corner falls. MVS lunges forward fully extending his arms as the ball dropped right into his hands. He caught it ! His body slide into the endzone ! TD Packers! I was reluctant to celebrate before seeing a replay. All scoring plays are reviewed so while I was awaiting the verdict to the most impactful replay ruling I'd ever imagined I hunted down Jason. I put my arm around him as the ref trotted back out on to the field. "After reviewing the play. The receiver was touched prior to having possession of the ball. The receiver caught the ball without it touching the ground and crossed the plane without contact. It is a Touchdown."
After all Jason had gone through recently. Losing his 6 figure paying job. Losing his wife. Losing his savings. I'd never seen him cry until this moment. I asked him some questions about what he planned to do now. He wasn't going to try to get his wife back. And fuck the job search now. So I asked him one final question. "So what are you going to do then ?" He looked up at me. Tears gone. With a smirk he said "now... now I let it ride"