Road Sign Math

Frank hadn’t gambled much. He’d never been to the Abiquiu Casino. He had spent much of the evening taking in the smoky atmosphere and enjoying a couple of drinks. He was doing his best to look the part of the reformed lounge lizard. At 21, Frank didn’t have the gruff to pull it off, and anybody that cared to look at him for more than a passing glance would have known it right away.

Frank had spent some time at different tables. He had what he would consider a lot of money, but to most people wouldn’t be. He tried his hand at poker but was ultimately a loser. Perhaps worse was the fact that he annoyed all the other players at the table with questions. A rough looking gambler at the end of the table had given Frank a look as if he was going to snuff out his existence and Frank decided to move on.

After a few more free spirits Frank decided to set himself down at the blackjack table.

The dealers name was Juan. He didn’t look a day older than Frank but in his crisp uniform Juan looked respectable and upstanding. Frank was curious about the black garters that Juan wore on his sleeves. He hadn’t seen that before but nobody else was looking so he figured it must be ok. There was only one other person at the table where Frank sat down. A grisly ranch-hand from Caliente was in for the evening to rest his tired hands and see if he could get lady luck on his side.

Frank found his luck to be moderate. He ran luke-warm, never too hot, never too cold, at Blackjack. It was enough to keep him in the game and not scratch him, but not enough to get any windfall.

Frank had put down a few more vodka gimlets. He wasn’t used to drinking this much and also wasn’t wise enough in years and experience to realize that was a bad idea at the Abiquiu. In his stupor he decided he would go out in a blaze of glory, or at least a small firecracker of excitement to cap the night. Frank put all his chips on the next hand.

Juan dealt the cards around. The ranch hand from Caliente wasn’t excited about his cards, it looked like he was going to pack it in very soon. Frank on the other hand had his luck run hot suddenly. He was dealt a Jack, 10. 20! Frank stared at his small stack of chips. It wasn’t a lot to anyone else, but it was to him. He would leave tonight better than twice as good on his wallet. Maybe he should come to the Abiquiu more often!

As Juan dealt the man from Caliente he ended up busting the poor ranch hand. Starting with a King and a 3. Juan gave the man a 2. The steer wrangler stared at Juan, looked over at Frank and muttered “Hit me.“ Juan dealt him a fatal 7. 22. The man gave Frank a nod and left the table. He had had enough for the night.

Frank on the other hand could hardly contain himself. He had a winner. He knew it. Juan turned his steely eyes to Frank and asked him what he wanted to do. Frank was so eager to have this hand over. The vodka had come up on him pretty quickly and as Frank reached his hand out to wave Juan off, somehow he ended up tapping on the table. Frank couldn’t believe his own actions. What is the matter with me he thought? Your sitting on twenty and you tap for a hit? Idiot!

Juan was a cool operator. He didn’t ask Frank to confirm. He didn’t even think about it. This was his opportunity to bust another stupid kid at the Abiquiu. Juan smirked, just a little, for the first time that evening. He reached into his sleeve to get a card, slid it across the table and flipped it over before Frank could even begin to object.

An Ace. How could it be an Ace. The chances were next to nothing. You don’t hit on 20. Frank stared as the Ace of Spades appeared next to his Jack, 10. Juan’s smirk disappeared in an instant as he did the math

Frank’s heart leapt back from his shoes into his chest. He knew this was his last hand. Too many vodka gimlets for this fresh shaven kid. He had looked into the abyss and made it out. Juan, the chiller, was no more. Frank would win this hand, and with it a nice steak dinner. Frank decided he would return to the Abiquiu again, but he would lay off the spirits and focus on the cards.

This gambling sign is located off of highway 68 on highway 74 westbound at GPS location N36 02 44.1 W106 03 43.2. See sign on map!