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THE PROFF
THEPROFF looked at himself in the mirror and sighed. He saw an old man. What had once been a shock of thick wavy chestnut hair was now a sad, wisp of straggly white cotton. The eyes that had been a startling blue were now red rimmed and bloodshot, and the scraggy face that looked back at him was badly in need of a shave. He ran a grubby hand across his chin and smiled sadly to himself. What did he expect? A distinguished and handsome gentleman? After a life of hard living and even harder drinking this was all he deserved. Well at least he had his mind. He hadn't drunk that away the way he had the rest of his life. He turned away from the reflection looking at him accusingly and walked across to the pc on his only table and turned it on. As he waited for it to boot up he looked around his sad home. It had been described in the advert as a studio apartment, but in reality it was no more than a dingy room above a noodle shop with damp walls and faded, peeling wallpaper. There was an unmade single bed, one solitary armchair that sagged in the middle from over use, a two- ringed electric hob and a w.c. and shower room so small that he could hardly fit in it. In the old fashioned wooden wardrobe his meager collection of worn t shirts and shorts wilted on their hangers and the overhead fan wheezed and coughed all day and barely kept the warm, tobacco filled air wafting around. In a small, rusty, stainless steel sink over in the corner, lay a pile of unwashed dishes with a cockroach sitting on the top, waving its disgusting antennae like the king of the castle.
The computer grabbed his attention as it whirled to life and he sat down in front of it, grateful to have something to take his mind off his sorry life. Logging into the spades room he wondered how his little band of students were doing. He smiled ruefully to himself at the thought that these were the only students left to him now. If he regretted one thing about the life he had chosen to lead, it would surely be the loss of his professorship. He had been a good teacher. "Oh well," he thought to himself, "there's work to be done." He checked down his friends list to see if any of his guys were in and nodded sagely as he noticed that three of them were in, and in games already. That was good. Practice makes perfect. Cappy had obviously noticed that he had logged in and zoned him immediately.
Hi Proff. Hows things?
He liked Joanne. They had been good friends for many years. They had met when he was a young university professor, and she and her husband had sold him his first condo, they had formed an unlikely friendship that had endured the years and the scandals and his drink problem. It had been Joanne who had introduced him to the game years ago, and he had been on her team from the very start. She was a good captain and a good friend.
Hello Captain, my Captain. Things here are the same as always, how about you?
Things are good here too ty. I think I have a new teamie that you may be interested in. Just joined yesterday. Great potential.
Now then, that's what he liked to hear. For years now Joanne would alert him to the new team members that she thought showed real promise and most of the time she was right.
Tell all dear lady
Well his nic is gingerbreadman. don't know much about him but think he could be one of yours.
Well that is certainly good news. Let me go and search him out and we'll see.
So, humming happily to himself, he forgot all his troubles and began the process all over again. He was in his element.
Across the miles in Manchester, England, Jimmy was just about to get his first lesson in the finer points of the game of spades. He had been playing spades for a few months now in the rated rooms and although he enjoyed the game he found the other players a bit rude and unsportsmanlike. So when some one had told him about a league where you played as part of a team he leapt at the chance. He had only joined The Wanderers yesterday and still wasn't really sure about the procedures and protocol, but he already felt much more comfortable. The Captain who had signed him up seemed like a really nice lady and although he had only had a couple of games last night it did really feel like a friendly place to play.
Hello new teamie. Welcome to The Wanderers.
"You see," he thought to himself "that's friendly."
Thank you. I just joined yesterday.
Yes, I know. Would you like a game?
Ty. I'd love one.
Very good young GINGERBREADMAN. Choose a table and lead the way.
Great. A game already. But he did wonder about the peculiar manner of his new partner. Oh well, each to their own. And went on to look for a table for them to play at. There was a team sitting at table 7 looking for opponents but when he checked out their ratings he discovered that they were pretty high. He hadn't been playing that long and then it had been in the lower rated rooms. Wondering what rating his partner was he traced down the friends list and whistled to himself. That was high.
There is a game going on 7 p but I don't think I have the experience to beat them, they are both high and I'm really a beginner. If you want to find another p I won't mind.
The Proff chuckled to himself.
Modesty becomes you. But don't put yourself down so easily. Chose a seat and let's see what you're made of .lol
"On your head be it." Jimmy was thinking, "I did warn you." as he sat at the table and pressed the thumbs up sign to begin the game.
Spades is a four-player card game, played live on the Internet. It's played by two teams sitting across the table from each other in the north, south, east and west positions. Partners facing partners. It is essentially a game of nomination whist with spades as trumps. Each player bids the amount of tricks he or she thinks he will win for each hand of which he has been dealt thirteen cards. Players are awarded ten points for each trick won. Any extra tricks are known as "bags" and if a team accumulates ten "bags" they lose one hundred points. If a player thinks that he will win no tricks then he or she can bid nil and if they get no tricks on this bid they will be awarded one hundred points, but if they gain just one trick on a nil bid they will lose one hundred points. As the object of the game is to be the first team to five hundred points, nils are very important and if a player bids nil the opposing team will fight to make sure that he or she gets at least one trick, (this is what is known as "catching the nil) ensuring that he and his partner lose one hundred points. As the players are playing as a team it helps to play together to make sure that they cover each others bids and get the accumulated points that they have bid between them.
On the first hand one of the opps bid nil and neither THEPROFF or GINGERBREDMAN could catch it so they went into the second hand with 82 points and 2 bags to the opponents 121 points and 1 bag. On the second hand The Wanderers managed to set their opps leaving the score at 145 with 5 bags, and the opps on 71 and still only one bag. By the fourth hand Jimmy and THEPROFF had managed to give them 6 bags and then another two on hand 5 taking the score up to 335 points and 5 bags to The Wanderers and 208 points and 8 bags to the opponents. Hand 6 gave GINGERBREADMAN pause for thought as it was an eleven bid and he was unsure whether his partner wanted to set them or to give them 10 bags, which would cost them 100 points. As it turned out The Wanderers got the bags and the score was 377 with 7 bags playing 278 with 8 bags going into hand 7. The total bid in hand 7 was 10 and both teams bagged over but The Wanderers were in a strong position as the opps were on 319 points and they had 439 leaving a 7 bid between them for the game on hand 8. However they were only able to bid 3 each and weren't able to make the end game, so they worked on giving the opps 5 bags making their bag count up to 9 the trouble was that they bagged over themselves leaving the score at 402 with 2 bags as opposed to 359 with 9 bags. They managed to set them in hand 9 so the score going into hand 10 are 455 to The Wanderers with only 5 bags and 299 to the opps with 9 bags. In hand 10, Jimmy and THEPROFF only needed to bid 5 but got 8 between them, the total bid was 11. The game belonged to the wanderers. But Jimmy only made 4 out his 5 bid and so they were set, losing 8 points taking the scores to 437 and 7 bags playing 273 and 3 bags. Hand 11 saw the opps bidding nil in a final attempt to win the game. Jimmy and THEPROFF bid 70, so if they weren't set here they could have the win. They didn't worry too much about the nil, just concentrating on getting their bid. It paid off. They got their 70 bid, taking the score to 507 with the opponents scoring 303. The Wanderers had won.
When a game is finished one of the losing players must report the fact that they have been defeated, and to which team. This is so that a record is kept of each teams performance, which is shown on "the ladder". Individual players are awarded points on their ratings for each win and, similarly they are deducted for each loss. Every players rating is shown next to his or her name on the member's list, which means that everyone can gauge a player's ability at a glance. Jimmy had just earned himself 20 points and so his rating would go up to 1660.
Nice win my friend.
Typed in THEPROFF after the report had been posted.
Typ u2
Replied Jimmy.
Sorry about getting set on the 10th hand. We should have had it earlier.
THEPROFF chuckled to himself. Cappy was right, this boy has potential. Worth a bit of work he thought. Washing a small pale blue tablet down with his first tumbler of scotch on the rocks he typed
Np p. these things happen. You are a good player. For a beginner. lol.
Typ. High praise for someone with your ratings.
Fancy another?
Asked THEPROFF
Sure do
Came the reply. And so the two went into another game, which they won also, but this time THEPROFF was a little more devious, making strangely low bids each hand. This meant that they were getting too many bags all the time. Jimmy didn't really understand why his p would play this way after the last game and guessed that it was some kind of test. So he changed the way he was used to playing and followed THEPROFF's lead. Soon he saw what his partner was up to. The opps were thrown into confusion, trying for sets was pointless as The Wanderers were bidding so low, and as they were bidding normally they were getting all the bags and there was nothing they could do about it. Then just when they changed their method of bidding, THEPROFF changed his tactics and began going for the sets. He and Jimmy got two sets in a row and won the game in 8 hands.
After the game Jimmy was beginning to get hooked. As he had never played in a team before and was used to playing with whoever sat opposite him first, he had never thought of playing tactically with a partner. The possibilities were endless.
Wow p. That was pure genius.
He typed, in awe.
I try.
Came the reply.
You had me worried at the beginning, couldn't understand what you were doing .lol
Yes, but you grasped the concept very quickly.
Do you have any more tricks up your sleeve?
Jimmy asked.
Oh yes, young sir, but only for those who want to learn.
Well, I would love to learn if you would take the time to teach me.
Time is the one thing that I have in abundance. So lead on MacDuff and let me show you a thing or two.
And so THEPROFF spent a very enjoyable afternoon in the company of his newest recruit teaching him a few little strategies and ploys. He was gratified that GINGERBREADMAN was a quick learner with an agile brain. As the evening approached Jimmy was getting tired.
Sorry P. I have to get off to bed. I'm getting tired now and I have to get up for work in the morning. It's 2am here.
"Oh yes,' thought THEPROFF as he poured another drink, "sunny old England in the winter. You can keep it."
Ok p. ty for the games.
No p. thank you. Are you in tomorrow night?
Perhaps. If so, we can play again, if you like.
Yes please.
Then so be it. Good night.
And as Jimmy was signing off and turning in for the night THEPROFF poured himself another scotch, noticing that the bottle was almost empty, then went in search of his other protégé's to see how they were getting on. He was particularly interested in a young Australian called RAMBLINGMAN, who was backpacking around the U.S. with his laptop and a friend called Ed. He was a seriously good player and he was THEPROFFS greatest triumph to date. There was almost nothing left for him to impart to the young man but it amused THEPROFF sit and watch his games (which is known as kibitzing) and it gave him great pride to see the boy in action. Tonight he was playing with BONEY one of the weaker players on the team, but THEPROFF always encouraged his students to play with a variety of partners with different levels of ability. It strengthened their own skill and prevented them from assuming that their partners were always going to play well. Besides, what was the point in belonging to a team if you were only going to play with a handful of partners? Captain Joanne certainly wouldn't appreciate that.
The game was almost over but RAMBLINGMAN and BONEY were not in the winning seats this time. THEPROFF knew that this would be annoying RAMBLINGMAN, especially as he had just arrived at the table to watch. The opponents had a score of 430 points with 7 bags so they needed to bid 70 points and could only afford to get two extra tricks other wise they would have 10 bags and so lose 100 points. Fortunately RAMBLINGMAN would be the last to bid so the decision on how to play this hand would be his. The opps did bid 7 but BONEY, predictably, bid nil, so RAMBLINGMAN had no option now. As he had to cover a nil and ensure that his p got no tricks, the chances were that he was going to get all the bags. His only choice here was to cover the nil, take the bags and try to set the opponents 7 bid. That way The Wanderers would gain an extra 100 points and live to fight another day. Unfortunately, and to THEPROFFS extreme amusement, BONEY didn't actually have a nil hand. He had far too many high cards and RAMBLINGMAN had no hope of covering for him. It was a mistake that the less experienced players made constantly. How can you set the opps if you are trying to get no tricks? THEPROFF found it exasperating and he knew that RAMBLINGMAN would too. Unsurprisingly The Wanderers lost the game and as BONEY was reporting their defeat RAMBLINGMAN typed a zone message to his mentor
Jeez. I hate playing with idiots like that Proff.
THEPROFF chuckled happily.
I know young fellow-me-lad. But it's good to play with weaker players sometimes. Keeps you on your toes.
Lol. It would be quicker to just give the points away.
That isn't very gracious. Just consider it as character building.
Just then the report was posted which meant that all the players could now leave the table.
Game p?
Asked Pete. THEPROFF sighed. The bottle was empty.
Sorry my young antipodean. No time. I have to make a foray into the outside world and purchase some victuals. Maybe later.
Ok proff. Catch ya soon.
Certainly.
He answered and leaving his computer turned on he took a note from his wallet lying on the bed and went out to buy his evening bottle of Johnny Walker.
Pete was laughing as THEPROFF said goodbye. Over the months that he had spent under his tutelage he had grown strangely fond of the old drunk. He enjoyed his quick wit and keen mind, and THEPROFF never ceased to amuse him with his weird way of talking. He knew that some of his fellow Wanderers found him patronizing, but that's because they hadn't spent as much time in his company as Pete and a few of the others. If it wasn't for THEPROFF Pete knew that he would never have become the player that he was, and he appreciated greatly the time the old guy had spent with him, teaching him the finer points of the game.
It was a shame that his teacher wasn't going to make it to next weeks convention in Florida, it would have been the icing on the cake to finally meet up with the man that Pete considered a genius. What a thrill it would have been to enter one of the tournaments with him. With THEPROFF as his partner Pete felt sure that he could go all the way and win the Champion of Champions tourney. That would surely be the title to win. In fact it was because of the spades convention that Pete had decided to back pack around America, instead of Europe like most of his friends. It was great to have visited all the major tourist attractions across the States with his mate Ed. But the highlight of his trip was going to be next week in Florida. Pete couldn't wait.
As he still had a week to go he had plenty of time to practice and he spent the rest of the night finding out which of his regular partners, who were mainly other students of THEPROFF, were definitely going to be there next week. Pete wanted to pick his p's for the convention tourneys carefully, he intended to win and making sure that he had the strongest partners was going to be vital. He knew that RAINBOW and I'MTOOGOOD were definitely going, so that was good, but he wasn't sure about KINGASPADES. He was also looking forward to meeting up with some of the other teamies who weren't familiar with THEPROFF. Although he took his game seriously, he also enjoyed playing socially, and a lot of The Wanderers were a great laugh. He was particularly looking forward to meeting up with WILDROVER a Scottish bloke called Dave, who usually played a good game, as well as TEXASGIRL and POISONIVY who mostly played together, but had always been great fun whenever he had played against them in a team friendly. Oh yes, it was going to be a great week.
A couple of nights before the convention Pete and THEPROFF were having a last minute conference. THEPROFF was talking to all of his students who were going to be attending the convention, making sure that they played together as much as possible, especially in the more important Champion games. He was making sure that they remembered all he had taught them and explaining how the live game was played. How to spot any signals the opps may be making to each other and what to do about it.
You sound more nervous than I am Proff.
Typed in Pete.
This is true RAMBLINGMAN. I do feel an unfamiliar fluttering of tension. But I am confident that my students will deport themselves with dignity.
Lol don't you mean "bring home the cup"?
THEPROFF smiled.
Yes certainly, that would be the desired outcome of the whole expedition. Worth an extra, celebratory dram.
Now it was Pete's turn to smile.
I still wish you were going to be there Proff.
Ah yes, that would be marvelous. But unfortunately, impossible.
Joanne and he had had the same conversation only the day before. The Captain had asked why he wouldn't be going. It was a huge event, the first ever convention that the league had organized. She knew how much the game and his students meant to him and couldn't understand why he wouldn't be there.
I just don't understand why you can't tear yourself over here. Even if it's just for the last week.
My dear lady, there is nothing I would like better. But sadly I find myself lacking in funds. The cost of the flight from Bangkok to Florida alone makes it prohibitive, let alone the hotel accommodation and the day to day expenses.
It always comes down to money doesn't it old friend.
Sadly that does seem to be the case on most occasions. The reason I live in this God forsaken hole is the low cost of living.
Not to mention the fact that it's as far away from everyone who knows you as possible. Lol.
He had ignored that remark.
The trust fund is getting lower each month. Lord know's what I'll do when it's gone.
In fact he dearly wanted to be there in Florida to watch RAMBLINGMAN win the Champion of Champions tournament, but the trust fund that he had been living on for the last few years was precariously low and he was forced to live even more frugally than even he was used to. There was no chance that he could afford to go. Although he could discuss his problems with Joanne, there was no way on God's earth that he would tell one of his students the reason that he wouldn't be at the convention. Even his favourite, RAMBLINGMAN.
Besides, you have your infernal laptop with you. So each night I will expect a blow by blow account of each game played.
Np proff. I'll sign in and report every day and tell you how we are all doing. How's that?
That would be splendid. Copious amounts of thanks to you.
And so Pete and the rest of his students went into the convention fully armed and bursting with confidence.
The first evening of the convention was a social event where the teams could all enjoy meeting up with each other for the first time and Pete enjoyed himself immensely. He was pleased that Dave and the two girls whose names turned out to be Beth and MaryAnne had arrived and that they were just as much fun in the flesh as they were in the spades room. He had dragged his friend Ed along with him and was amused to watch him in action with MaryAnne. He had been concerned that Ed was going to be bored during Pete's two weeks of card playing, but he needn't have worried. Old Ed looked as if he had found a diversion. Most of The Wanderers spent the evening at one of the bars in the sumptuous Hilton Hotel, and he was glad to finally meet RAINBOW and KINGASPADES. Who had plenty of funny stories to tell about their own encounters with THEPROFF. They found that Joanne, the Cappy, was an old friend of THEPROFF, but she refused to give them any information about him, not even his name and RAINBOW was reduced to a fit of giggles at some of the suggestions the others came up with. Finally after an evening of excess the group broke up, making plans for the next day. Pete shook his head in amusement at Beth and MaryAnne making plans for the beach. RAINBOW and KINGASPADES were going to have a game together in the friendly matches at the beginning of the convention, so he and Dave agreed to partner up too, and check out the opposition.
So the following afternoon, after a late breakfast of paracetamol and Coca Cola Pete strolled into the huge ballroom of the Hilton, which was going to be the home of the convention. He noticed the plush décor, deep carpets that sank beneath his scuffed trainers, and the cherubs on the ceilings, but he wasn't interested in all that. He was paying more attention to the playing arrangements. The first half of the vast area, closest to the entrance had been set aside for spectators and players waiting for a game with a hundred tables draped in stiff white cloths and served by an army of waiters. Dividing the room in two, an inch thick Perspex wall had been erected since the previous night. In it there were two doors, one on the right side of the room and one on the left, so players and officials could go in and out. On the spectators side of the divide fifty screens had been set up in rows on each side of the room in order to watch the game at each of the fifty tables on the other side of the wall. Pete's stomach lurched when he realized that everyone would be able to see every move he made, it would be like standing naked in front of five hundred people.
Above the clear dividing wall hung two enormous digital leader boards, for recording the tournaments in progress, with spaces for each players name and team name, each two man team would be ranked according to their success in previous tourneys. It would record how many players had entered the tourney which teams were playing together and at which table, the standings and, where applicable, the prize money. In the Champion Tournaments, later on in the convention, players would pay a fee to join. The league had managed to raise quite a substantial sum from sponsors, whose names waved on banners around the arena, and so there would be a number of monetary gains to be made, just to make it that much more exciting. But for the first few days it was to be a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, giving everyone time to adjust to the surroundings ready for the real games later on.
As he stood looking at the fifty tables behind the Perspex, imagining what it would be like to sit in there with a live partner across the table and live opps on each side of him, he noticed on his right, against the far wall was a long table with two pretty girls sitting behind it and a banner above it reading "TEAM SIGN UP".
More people were coming into the room now and meeting up with new friends at the spectator's tables and he noticed Dave come through the door with what looked like a worse hangover than his own. He waved at him through the growing crowd and when the Scotsman caught his eye and waved back he motioned to the sign- up table.
They were among the first to sign up and as they sat at the spectators' tables waiting for all the other players, they read a copy of the tourney rules that each player would be given at the beginning of every tournament. Over the next couple of weeks Pete would collect a good many of these printed A4 sheets, but as this was the first one, he read it from top to bottom. The rules were the same as he was used to, but there were a few extras to cover the fact that the game was being played live. Things such as table chat and signaling. As they read through the rules Dave pointed out from the leader boards that RAINBOW and KINGASPADES had just signed up and they scanned through the crowd that was beginning to build up, looking for them. Dave saw them first and went over to get them, so that they could all sit together with their first day nerves, and came back with two other Wanderers teams. They were all relieved to have company, and laughed as Dave said
"Good grief, I haven't been this nervous since my first day at school."
"Have you read the rules?" Asked KINGASPADES.
"Yeah mate, pretty much the same as usual eh." Replied Pete.
"Except for the bits about the dealer being adjudicator "in the first instance" what does that mean?" Queried one of the others.
"Cappy told me last night that there was a whole bunch of Professional croupiers who have been hired by the league for this fortnight." Said RAINBOW, who was a Chinese girl from New York City call Sue Lin.
"She said that they had all been on a training course for a week to learn all about spades and the rules of the game."
"Right," said one of the others, "so they are adjudicators as well as dealers, but if there is a problem that they can't sort out then they will call one of our admin."
"Bloody hell," retorted Pete in admiration, "they have really worked hard to put this shin dig together haven't they?!"
Sue Lin glanced up at the leader board and began to laugh.
"What's so funny Sue Lin?" Asked Dave.
"Look at the leader board, you guys are playing against us, at table 19."
"No way!" Exclaimed Dave.
"I know it happens all the time in the spades room, but I didn't think it would happen here." Said KINGASPADES, whose name was Ronnie.
"Well it's the same people organizing it, so we shouldn't really be surprised." Replied Sue Lin.
"At least it's just a friendly." Said Pete.
"And we can sort out the ins and outs together, on our first day, so maybe it's for the best." Said Sue Lin soothingly.
And just at that moment the players for the first tournament of the Spades Convention were called into the playing area, which would soon become affectionately known as "The Arena".
Before the doors were unlocked a battalion of men and women dressed in black suites with white shirts and matching white gloves marched into the arena from a door in the back wall. They all walked calmly to a predesignated table with two decks of new playing cards, each wrapped in cellophane. They stood erect and expressionless, as they waited for the two teams over which they would be presiding to arrive at their table. Once they were all in position the doors connecting the Arena to the gallery were opened and the players filed through and went immediately to their tables and took their places. Not until everyone was sitting did a buzzer sound to begin play.
Each dealer ceremoniously opened one of the new packs of cards and began shuffling. Pete's nerves soon started to fade as the thirteen cards were dealt to all four players. There was no time to worry now, the game was in play and all his concentration was needed. Imbedded in the green baize table, directly in front of him, was a small monitor and keypad, about the size of a cigarette packet, where each player typed their bid and could keep a track of the bids and scores as the game went on. It may have only been a friendly game, but he meant to win.
Counting his cards he saw that he had a nil bid but as he was first to announce his attentions and didn't know what Dave was holding, he only felt safe to bid one. As each player made his or her bid on the keypad Pete could see from the tiny screen that he had made the correct guess. Dave had only bid one and the chances of him covering a nil with only one bid, were pretty low. Even if they found themselves set, it was better to lose the two points than if they had lost 100 which is the cost of losing a nil bid. The first hand was played out leaving the scores 20 points and 2 bags to RAINBOW and KINGASPADES 60 points and 3 bags, which was the average scores for the first hand. Average summed up the whole game, which lasted for around forty-five minutes. It was close all the way through, but finally RAMBLINGMAN and WILDROVER won through to go on to the next round. The losing pair would leave the table and the arena, while the winners stayed where they were until they were informed by the Tournament Director which team they would play in the next round and at which table.
The next round found the boys playing against two players from the team The Flock, whom they had often played in the spades room and all four players found it highly amusing to be finally meeting live at a table. One of the opps, whose nic was BALDEAGLE laughed as they shook hands.
"Well, well, you guys. Nice to finally meet up in the flesh."
"Isn't it great?" Asked Pete
"Fantastic!" exclaimed Dave.
"Look at this, a Scotsman and an Aussie and two Yanks at the same table." Chirped in the other opp THE-VULTURE
With that the buzzer sounded to begin the game and the dealer, a young man with blond hair tied into a pony tail, opened a fresh deck of cards and the second game of the tourney began. This time around The Wanderers couldn't lose. They had all the best cards, giving them two nils and a set. The game was over in thirty minutes. Shaking hands and vowing to get their revenge, the two flock players left the table while The Wanderers waited to be told which table and team they would play next. And so the afternoon wore on, with more people in the gallery watching on as fewer winners were left to battle it out. Pete and Dave found themselves in the final and were brimming with confidence as they sat at the final table with two more players from The Flock. A woman in her fifties with the nic REDREDROBIN and her p, an older man with rheumy eyes called NIGHTHAWK. It was a tough game, but The Wanderers were invincible that afternoon and the game was theirs within the hour, to their huge relief and delight.
The last to leave the arena that afternoon, with triumph beaming from their eyes and victory pounding in their hearts, the two friends walked through the door in the Perspex wall to only a few well wishers. The handful of Wanderers who had the staying power to cheer their teamies on to the end, and of course Captain Joanne, who was as buoyed up with their win as Dave and Pete were. She laughed gaily as the Scotsman and the Aussie insisted on buying her a celebratory drink, which led to another. A little later Ed arrived with MaryAnne and Beth in tow, glowing from their day at the beach, and another evening of drinking followed.
Later that night, in their hotel room Pete plugged in his laptop and signed into the games room to speak to THEPROFF as promised.
So you won. Felicitations.
Pete was amazed.
How did you know that already? I only just got back.
The proff was thrilled to bits for his young friend, and smiled benevolently.
But not before a small light ale or two at the hostelry's public house, I believe.
Pete burped merrily.
This is true also. How to you know that.
I have my ways young Peter. Our venerable leader informed me of your victory with WILDROVER not half an hour ago. And I have been agog with curiosity to hear it from the horse's mouth. Now, tell all.
So RAMBLINGMAN went on to tell THEPROFF all about the days' events. The old man was like a sponge for details, wanting to know the lay out of the room, the technology being used. He loved the idea of the keypad and viewing screens on the tables, and the fact that the spectators could watch every game simultaneously. He laughed at Pete's description of the opps and shook his head in disappointment when he heard that his students had to play each other in the first round. By the time they had finished, Pete was exhausted from all the eager questions, but THEPROFF could almost imagine that he had been there in the arena with them all.
So wishing his student a very good night, he happily logged out of the spades room and turned off his computer, but and before going to bed himself he took a last swallow of Johnny Walker with two more of his little blue pills. His last thought before falling asleep was to book another appointment with that quack of a doctor, these pills weren't strong enough any longer. He needed a bigger dose.
The rest of the first week went by in a total whirl for Pete. His days were filled with spades, and his nights were a blur of wild parties and his regular nightly chats with THEPROFF. He was amused to watch the blossoming romance between Ed and MaryAnne. Hell, poor old Ed had been put through the wringer by that bitch of an ex wife of his and it was great to watch him come out of his shell like an old hermit crab. MaryAnne was a good-looking woman, with a wicked sense of humour, just what Ed needed. There was a bit of a moment at the end of the first week when she and Beth were leaving to go back to their real lives.
"You should go with her mate." He said to Ed.
"How can I go with her?" Ed asked huffily.
"Well what's to stop you Ed?" replied Pete in exasperation. "We're not joined at the hip. You're not here for the spades, I am. I'm gonna be busy in tourneys all next week, what are you gonna do? Just hang around here on your own?"
A grin slowly appeared right across Ed's face.
"Pete mate, you are absolutely right."
So swearing Pete to secrecy so he could surprise MaryAnne, he phoned the airport for a ticket and hurriedly began throwing all his gear into his rucksack. Pete hadn't seen him so happy in ages.
Meanwhile, back in Bangkok, THEPROFF had woken that morning in tearing agony. He fumbled around amongst the bottle, empty glass, overflowing ashtray and half full pack of Marlboroughs on the floor by his bed until he found the small brown bottle that contained his pills. He choked two down his dry throat and then impatiently he knocked back a third with a slug straight from the whiskey bottle. It took a long, painful hour before the medicine began to work and he was able to get out of bed, get dressed and stagger outside to hail a taxi to take him to the medical center.
"I wondered how long it would take you to get back to me." Said the doctor, looking at him through bottle thick spectacles. "It was longer than I expected."
"I'm sorry, it's nothing personal, but doctors aren't my favourite people. Besides, there's been no need, until today. All I require is some stronger pain- killers for this damned indigestion.
"I have your test results here, I think you should hear what it says." Replied the doctor sternly.
THEPROFF sighed."I know what those test are going to say Doctor."
"Yes, I suppose you can guess, but I have to tell you, just so that you can make your arrangements."
THEPROFF and The Doctor looked at each other steadily. THEPROFF knew it would come to this some day; there was no surprise and no regret in his eyes, only resignation. The Doctor felt no sympathy for this man who had systematically drank himself into this condition, where one by one his vital organs were shutting down.
"So how long have I got Doctor?" Asked THEPROFF.
"It's hard to put a definite time on it, but I'd say you have weeks, rather than months. It's time you came into the hospital so we can take care of you."
THEPROFF smiled wearily. "Thank you Doctor. But I can make my own arrangements."
As he made his way back to the shabby room above the noodle shop, his mind was buzzing with all the things that needed to be done. Now that it was finally upon him there was a lot to do. He would have to move fast. He had known in his heart what the doctor was going to say today, he just didn't realize that he had such a short time left. Luckily, thanks to the advent of the internet, most of his plans could be made on line, but there was one trip that he intended to make in person, and the thought of it, daunting as the journey would be in his condition, made his heart thump with excitement. As soon as he got home, he would send an e-mail to Joanne and her husband, Joe. They would be able to help him fulfill his final wish.
With Ed and the girls gone Pete was able to concentrate solely on the tournaments now. By the second week of the convention, all the emphasis was now on the games. He was playing in two tourneys a day, his rating was rising gradually and he had decided that he wanted to play with Sue Lin in the final Champion of Champions on the last day. He had played with most of his teamies, but had followed THEPROFF's advice and was now playing only with those who had trained for this event with his mentor. Although KINGASPADES was a fantastic player, he found RAINBOW more consistent and less nervous in front of spectators. He supposed that was because she was used to competing in public. She had a black belt in karate and regularly fought in tournaments for her club in New York. She thought her plays through thoroughly and Pete reckoned she had nerves of steel. THE PROFF had agreed with his choice during one of their nightly conversations. Sue Lin had agreed to be his partner and so they spent the day or two leading up to the most important event of the convention playing together and honing their joint skills to form a formidable team.
All too soon the big day was upon them. Pete and Sue Lin met in the spectators' area along with all the other teams who would be battling for the title of Champion on Champions. Only those players who had a high enough rating throughout the convention qualified for this tournament. There were twenty teams playing three of which belonged to The Wanderers. Captain Joanne was ecstatic. She had made sure that all of her teamies who had stayed for the second week were there to give their friends all the moral support they could get. With a beaming smile on her face and her eyes shining with pride she gathered her three teams together before the match and gave them some last minute encouragement.
"I'm so proud of you guys," she enthused "you've really done The Wanderers proud just by qualifying for this tourney. Thank you all so much."
"Thanks Cappy." Replied Sue Lin.
"Now it sure would be great if any of you brought the cup home to The Wanderers, but just to have three teams playing today is enough to make me burst."
"Aw shucks, Cappy, stop it now or you'll have us all in tears." Joked KINGASPADES.
"I mean it Ronnie. I don't care if you get knocked out in the first round or if you win the whole damn Tourney. You have made me a very happy old lady just by getting this far."
They all laughed at the old lady bit, Joanne was ever the kidder. Just as the little group was breaking up she held onto Pete's arm to hold him back. As he looked down to her, puzzled. She said quietly
"Good luck Pete, THEPROFF sends his best regards, his words not mine, she smiled, " and he asked me to give you this."
She held out her hand and in it lay, what looked like the claw of some dead animal. It was obviously old as what had once been white fur was now putty coloured and rubbed thin in parts. As he picked it up he saw that the stump was incased in a thin silver band with intricate engravings all around it. He was fascinated.
"What on earth is it Cappy?" he asked
Joanne smiled again as she answered him.
"It's his lucky rabbits foot. He swears by it"
It hasn't brought him much luck though, she was thinking sadly to herself.
"A rabbits foot! Good grief Cappy. That's disgusting."
And then he gave a loud whoop of laughter.
"Only THEPROFF could carry something like that around. Thanks Cappy, let's hope it brings me luck today."
At that moment the players were called into the arena to take their positions and the Champion of Champion Tournament began.
In their first game RAMBLINGMAN and RAINBOW were playing against a team from The Chancers. A set of gray haired twin men in their middle sixties, who's nics were FOLDEM and BAGSET. As all four players took their seats Pete smiled inwardly at the smirk of confidence that passed between the brothers when they saw the youth of their opponents. They thought these two young partners would be a walk over. THEPROFF had always shown them that over confidence was dangerous. They were both strong players and gave Pete and Sue Lin a few scary moments, but ultimately The Wanderers won, wiping the smiles right off of their faces. It was they who stayed at the table, watching the losers of the first round walk disconsolately back through the divide, into the gallery.
The second round Sue Lin and Pete were up against two players from Celestial Beings called ROCKETMAN and MRSPOCK, two nics which highly amused everybody, especially when they turned out to be two elderly ladies, who had chosen their nicknames never expecting to ever meet up with any of their other team mates. They had spent the entire convention the butt of everyone's jokes and in profound embarrassment. They didn't cause any giggles with their game against RAMBLINGMAN and RAINBOW however, as they had The Wanderers team set on the first hand making THEPROFFs students work every hand to catch them up and finally take the win. To Pete's utter relief.
The pressure was mounting now as the Champion of Champions Tournament was coming to its conclusion with the final game of the convention and the battle for the best team in the league. The spectators' area was full now with people from all the teams eager to witness the last tourney of the convention, and the waiting staff were running around frantically trying to keep everyone in drinks. The party was in full flow. But in the arena you could cut the tension with a knife. Pete could feel his heart thumping in his chest and the butterflies in his stomach. He willed his body to calm down as he wiped his damp palms on his jeans and smiled over at Sue Lin, who looked as calm and collected as ever.
In this last and all-important game RAMBLINGMAN and RAINBOW were once again up against BALDEAGLE and THE-VULTURE from The Flock.
"Congratulations guys for coming this far." Said Sue Lin as they all shook hands and took their seats.
"Yes, you too. It's been a great tournament, may the best team win." Replied BALDEAGLE.
"But don't forget we swore revenge a couple of weeks ago. This is it." Joked THE-VULTURE, good humouredly, and the game began.
Hand one was an average first round with The Wanderers scoring 61 points and 1 bag and The Flock with 42 points and 2 bags. Early days. In the second hand The Flock team were playing a bagging game bidding a low four and The Wanderers couldn't shake the bags, leaving the scores at 115 and 5 bags to The Wanderers and 82 points with only 2 bags. In hand three Pete looked at his cards and for a moment his heart dropped. He had the 2 and 7 of hearts, the 3, 7, 10 and jack of clubs, the 2, 3, 4, 6, 10 and queen of hearts and the 10 of spades. Could he bid nil? His problem was that he was first to bid and so had no idea what Sue Lin was holding. He decided not to risk it and bid 1. He was wrong. The total bid was 14. He had a nil bid, he couldn't hope to make one and so both he and Sue Lin were set. The score was 25 points and 5 bags to the Wanderers and 132 points with 2 bags to The Flock. To make matters worse the opps had a nil bid in the fourth hand and neither Pete of Sue Lin could catch it, so they went in to the fifth hand with a score of 105 and 5 bags to the opps' 264 and 4 bags.
In the gallery the rest of The Flock were ecstatic, whooping and cheering, jumping up and down and clapping each other on the back, as their teamies went into the lead. Joanne and The Wanderers clutched their glasses and glared at the screen, willing Pete and Sue Lin on.
Pete had no time to panic. If he wanted this game he was going to have to fight. His cards in hand five were bad, he could have bid 2 but two bids don't win a tourney, as THEPROFF would say, so glancing at the old lucky rabbits foot that was lying on the table to his right, he took a deep breath and bid nil. RAINBOW made a bid of three and RAMBLINGMAN thought he had made another mistake, but she covered his nil, bringing their score up to 237 points with 7 bags. But it was still a hundred points behind BALDEAGLE and THE-VULTURE who had 344 points and only 4 bags. It was Rainbow's turn to bid nil in the sixth hand which Pete was able to cover but even though it brought their score up to 378 points they now had 8 bags, two more and they would lose a hundred points.
The Flock supporters were still jubilant as their teamies were in the lead with 406 points and only six bags. All eyes were on the screens the bids for hand seven started to appear on the screens. It was a thirteen bid. A hush fell over the crowd. If The Wanderers could set The Flock team it could put them ahead by one hundred points.
Try as he could Pete couldn't set the opps' four bid and was beginning to fear that he wouldn't get his 4 bid after BALDEAGLE laid a spade on his ace of diamonds. Sue Lin saved him though by getting one extra for him. Neither side was set and the scores going into the eighth hand was 468 points and 8 bags to The Wanderers and 446 points and 6 bags to The Flock.
There was no cheering or backslapping in the gallery now. It was anyone's game. People were chewing on finger nails the smokers section was a haze of gray smoke, Joanne crossed her fingers and WILDROVER, Dave, swallowed a huge gulp of beer. No body said a word. No body even drew a breath.
In the last hand RAMBLINGMAN was dealt the 4, 7 and 8 of diamonds, the jack and ace of clubs, the 3, 5 and king of hearts and the 2, 6, 9, 10 and king of spades. He made a bid of six. Rainbow's bid was 1. The Flock bid 4. The total bid was 11. The flock team hadn't bid enough to get to the 500, but if they could make The Wanderers take two bags they would forfeit 100 points.
As the last card of the hand was played the gallery erupted. The Wanderers were screaming and hugging each other, Dave burst into a chorus of "He's a jolly good fellow", then MAMMAMIA, Frieda from Sweden, insisted on doing it again with "She's a jolly good fellow". Tears were streaming down Joanne's cheeks as she grasped the hand of the man standing beside her. He looked down at her and smiled a watery smile, squeezing her hand in return, and fishing into his trouser pocket for a stained and crinkled handkerchief. As he dabbed at his eyes, she asked
"Happy?"
"Yes."
Was the simple, but truthful reply. The players in the arena had shaken hands with each other, the dealer and the tournament director and admin, and were making their way towards the doors leading back into the gallery. Joanne tugged on his arm and said,
"Come on over and say hello."
He shook his head sadly.
"No Joanne."
"But it would mean so much to him, to both of them." She urged.
"It would be a cruel thing to do. Much better this way."
"Are you sure?"
"I've never been more certain of anything. And now my dear friend, please go and welcome the returning heroes. When the time is right, tell him my story. But for now allow him to bask in the glory he deserves." And he gently nudged her towards the crowd gathering around Pete and Sue Lin.
As the victorious team stepped through the door dividing the great room in two, they were swamped by well-wishers, most of them Wanderers, but others whom they had befriended over the years playing on the net. Pete was euphoric. He was vaguely aware of everyone shaking his hand and patting him on the back and he knew that his face was split in two by a ridiculous grin, but he couldn't help it. Then he noticed Cappy pull away from a scruffy old man over by the door. He was wearing a sandy coloured corduroy, double-breasted suit with a red waistcoat and a matching red carnation wilting in the lapel and a green bow tie on a magnolia cotton shirt. His white hair was slightly too long, his skin was a pale gray and he had dark circles beneath his eyes. But for a moment those eyes met his. The man inclined his head in a slight nod and a shy smile flashed briefly across his face.
Then he turned and walked through the door and out of the convention.
Pete tried to push his way through the crowd, but everyone wanted to talk to him at once. Sue Lin had a hold of his hand and Dave was shaking the other one. Someone else was waving a glass of Champaign at him and he couldn't get through.
"Excuse me."
He tried pushing again, but they wouldn't let him go.
"Sorry mate, can I just get passed here for a minute?"
But no one heard a word he said, they were all talking at once.
"Let me just get by," he said again "please."
But it was impossible. Joanne took a hold of his arm and smiled up at him.
"It was him, wasn't it?" he asked her desperately. "By the door. The Proff. Wasn't it?"
"Let him go Pete."
"No Cappy, I have to see him," he was gabbling but he didn't care, "I won, I have to tell him."
"No Pete." Said Joanne, but he wasn't listening.
"And I have to give him back his rabbits foot. Why didn't he come over to say Hi? Maybe he's just nipped out for some fresh air. I have to go and catch up with him. I can't believe he came all the way over. He must have planned it as a surprise."
"Pete!" Cappy raised her voice to get her attention. "I said let him go."
"What do you mean let him go?"
"This is the way he wanted it. He said to make sure you enjoyed your glory and I can tell you all about it later."
He looked at her uncomprehending.
"Tell me all about what, Cappy? What's going on?"
"Please Pete. Leave it for now. I'll explain everything later."
So Pete went back to the celebrations and drank champagne with Sue Lin and the others, he talked through the last game over and over again and he walked up to collect the silver cup and prize money with a beaming smile on his face. But something was niggling him about THEPROFF. Why hadn't he come over to shake his hand? After all the time they had spent training for this moment, and after the planning that the old guy must have done secretly? Pete just couldn't understand it and whenever he asked Joanne she just shook her head and said things like
"Later, Pete." Or "Just enjoy your win for now." It was all very frustrating.
When he heard the news the following morning he finally understood. Joanne knocked on the door of his hotel room just as he was packing. The look on her face told him that something was very wrong. As they both sat down at a small table by the window, she told him the long, sad story of an old man and a life wasted by alcohol. How he had recently been given a short while to live and decided on a whim to come over to watch him win the Champion of Champions. And how, when his wish had been granted, and Pete and Sue Lin walked victorious from the table, he had taken himself off to a bench under a sprawling oak tree in a green park with the sun shining, birds singing and children playing, and swallowed his last bottle of pain killers, washing them down with his last bottle of Johnny Walker.
Pete's throat was aching with held back tears as he listened, and seeing his eyes glistening Joanne smiled across at him and said
"You know, he died a happy man Pete, and for that I thank you."
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