Southend U3A

Writing for Fun

June 2015

The Turn Of A Card - Diane Silverston

Peter had not realised how involved he had become in gaming. Every night for the last few months he had been attending balls and playing. At first he had been lucky and won quite a lot of money, but now he was seriously in debt.

He had been invited by some of his cronies to visit gaming clubs, where his situation had got worse. Here he was playing against the hardened players who did not seem to care about life. Peter had seen other young men caught in their web, but felt this would not happen to him. He had friends on his side, didn't he?

After a while with his debts mounting and his IOU's in other people's hands, Peter realised the friends weren't real, they were just good weather friends. He had a problem, what could he do?

On the mantelpiece there was an invitation for he and Elizabeth to attend the ball at the assembly rooms. Here was possibly a chance. Perhaps he would win? Perhaps this time the right card would turn up?

Peter had not really thought his plan through. He had made the decision to go ahead on the spur of the moment and not taken time to think of the consequences if his plan went badly. Earlier it had seemed a way to solve his problems at a stroke, just one evening of good luck would be enough.

It had been expensive coming to London for the season, costing far more than he thought. When he and Elizabeth had discussed the possibility of coming, earlier in the year, it had been all excitement and thoughts of joy to come.

Now it seemed to be just worries and concerns. Would he be able to solve his problems or would they just become worse?

That evening he dressed with extra care, everything had to look and be just right. No one was to be able to detect any problems. He must appear calm and look as if all was well and he knew what he was doing. Elizabeth knew nothing of the debts, and so would not do or say anything to spoil this image. It would be just as any other night at one of the season's festivities.

His future hung on the turn of a card.