Aubrey Wentworth was his real name, but most folks knew him as Red Velvet. That sobriquet was based on two factors. For one thing, Aubrey had flaming red hair, and in his early youth went from being called “Carrot Top” to simply “Red”, when he entered the teen years. Nobody had any idea where the red hair came from, as there wasn’t another red head in his lineage. His facial features so strongly resembled those of his father, however, that there was no doubt of his legitimacy. The second reason behind his nickname was this. Aubrey was a slick hand with playing cards. He was a gambler of renown, and so smooth on the deal that it was said he had the velvet touch. He could do things with a deck of cards that defied gravity and the capacity of mere human vision. Aubrey Wentworth was a card sharp, but nobody could ever prove that he was a cheater. Red was an extremely lucky fellow, a player to be feared. His expressionless face gave away nothing. His system of play was never the same, so his style could never be gauged by even the most astute observer. Red Velvet was always a winner. That is, until he came up against Rose Sateen. The very first time that she slid into a chair across from him, Red’s luck with cards began to change. For one thing, Rose was so lovely, so demure, yet at the same time so seductive, that Red simply couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. He had trouble paying attention to the cards that had been played, and the odds changed. Where once he could make a reasonable and profitable assumption as to which cards might be coming next in the deck, in Rose’s perfumed presence, he was reduced to a neophyte. Even his fancy shuffling was slowed and clumsy. Red Velvet was smitten by a distracting brunette with noteworthy cleavage. Aubrey Wentworth staked it all one Saturday night. The other players had been forced to throw in their hands after emptying their wallets. The rule was that nobody could leave the table to get more money. Thousands of dollars had been lost to Rose Sateen. Only Red Velvet could still ante up. The bet was one thousand dollars to him. Rose leaned forward clutching her cards tightly, a noticeable change in her breathing. The pot now contained over twelve thousand. Red took out his handkerchief and wiped his forehead and the drops of perspiration on his upper lip. In his mind he was trying to remember how many aces he’d seen played already. He held three, and figured Rose for three kings. Was there another ace coming? He wished the woman would sit back so he could concentrate. Either that or wear something with a collar. He made his play, “Any aces?” Red Velvet’s heart almost stopped beating as Rose replied, “Go fish!” ~ © RickMack (jotoma@bellsouth.net) ~ November 10, 2003 If you enjoyed this page, check these out: Her Lost Song Sledding A Christmas Carol Love Brings Feelings When Santa Was A Boy Snowballing And.......for many others, click the link for HOME. Home: Writers' Corner Index