OLUKUNLE THE GAMBLER (A short story)

Kunle used the back of his palm to wipe off the sweat that had formed a bead on his head. He was in deep thought as he looked at the cards spread before him. Each was covered. To win N500 with N50, he had to flip the king over. Now he doesn't know if a king was among the cards spread before him. You can't just tell if the gamblers he was playing against were honest. Okay, no gambler is honest so scratch that.

"Guy you dey waste time, abi you want make another person play win?"

One of the two gamblers asked him. He was short, stocky and had a huge chest. On his face is a deep scar just below his eyes. He had been in a knife fight before. His partner was slim and lanky but he had this evil aura around him. His eyes were stone dead. Talk about a dead man walking. Now Kunle was at odds to play against these men.

"Make another person play then."

Kunle retorted.

Like magic, a dude which Kunle had paid little attention to sauntered over to them.

"I go like play."

Kunle looked at him. He was putting on a blue long-sleeve shirt which he tucked in neatly. His shoes were shiny like he just left the shoe-shiner's shop.

"How much own."

The short guy asked.

"100 naira for one thousand naira."

The long-sleeve dude replied coolly. This sounded too good to be true. Kunle's attention was brought back by the card setter.

"You see this king? Look am well well. Oya I don turn am."

He started moving the supposed king quickly in-between two other cards. Then stopped when he was satisfied that he had hidden it clearly. Kunle could swear that the king was at the center of the pack.

"Oya show me."

And viola, the long-sleeve dude pointed to the card at the center. It was turned over and right there was the king. Before Kunle's eye a thousand naira note changed hands.

"Oga you get luck o. You go like play again?"

The short gambler asked. The long-sleeved dude nodded his head. Right there another shuffling of card took place, again this dude won another thousand naira. It was just too good to be true.

"Oga play 500 naira take chop 5000 naira na."

The stoney eyed lanky dude requested. Kunle couldn't bear it anymore.

"Make I first play."

Kunle interrupted. Now the guy winning did not argue. He moved for Kunle to take his spot. This was surreal.

"Oga, make I try that 50 naira own."

Kunle requested. Flip, flop, flip, flop... Five hundred naira smiled it's way into Kunle's pocket. Kunle's heart was beating with anticipation. He had only fifty naira before and now he has five hundred and fifty naira. He did not waste time before going for another one.

Soon kunle had two thousand naira in his pocket. The stoney eyed dude that was silent all through the game came up with a suggestion.

"Guy, play for two thousand naira to win twenty thousand naira."

The world paused for Kunle. His mind went into a calculative mode. If he should win 20 thousand naira now, he would have enough money. That roasted chicken that mama Peter sells and the ever chilled bottle of beer sold in Mama Ada's shop would be a nice combo. Then he can also buy a pair of new shoes, get a hair cut, buy body spray and even give Ayipo, his akamu selling girlfriend more money to invest in the business.

"Oya now."

Kunle was set. The crowd which had gathered because of his previous screams were hailing him.

"Bring the two thousand naira first."

The short guy demanded unlike the first four games he had played. Unthinking, Kunle handed the money over. He waited with baited breath as the card was shuffled. This time the short dude did it faster and longer. Kunle was undeterred. His eyes kept following the card until...

"Why you press my nyash?"

A female voice sounded beside him. Just one second of losing concentration.

"Oya point the card."

Kunle pointed with confidence. The card was flipped open.

"Oh noooo"

The crowd went wild. It was the wrong card. Cold sweat broke out on the forehead of Kunle. The dream he just dreamt came crashing down.

"I wan go fifty naira own again."

The card was flipped again, this time faster. Kunle ended up losing. His stomach tightened. He just knew he would sleep hungry that night. To make matter worse, he still had a great distance to trek.

As Kunle moved sadly away, he looked behind him to see the long-sleeve dude laughing and returning the money he had won. Even the girl whose buttocks was pressed was also laughing with the gamblers.

Kunle swore never to gamble again. But right there in front of him, a voice screamed.

"Drop your old shoes and stand a chance of winning brand new ones."

Kunle stared at the tattered shoes on his feet.


The end...!
Joey..!

Beautiful story.seen the situation b4. U can neva beat those guys. Even when u win it all they beat u up and collect the money. Its a vicious circle from d girl screaming and d onlookers jus few people weho dont know half of the story dere.

Lmao!
Rotfl!

This is hilarious.

Greediness is a disease.