Chapter Two:
Lucky Plays Blackjack

Just the sight of her took his breath away.  He had known her for years, but
seeing her in that light, with that outfit, confirmed that she was one of the
most beautiful fowls he had ever seen.  It was his old friend Frieda the
Flamingo. But why was she at Circus Circus?  And why did she look so darn good?

She approched him.  “Look who's here...Lucky Ducky!  What are you doing here
in Las Vegas?”

“I was going to ask you the same question, Frieda” said Lucky.  His heart w
as pounding out of his chest.

“I went to school and became a blackjack dealer.  I've been here for about
two years!  I am now the best dealer in town, according to ‘Blackjack Dealers
Magazine'.”

“Very cool.  You were always good at anything you did.” said Lucky.

“I never got what I really wanted, though” said Frieda.

“And what was that?”

“You.”

Lucky almost passed out.  He always had a crush on Frieda, but she was always
so confident and cool.  He never thought he had a chance.

“Me?? You liked me?”  stuttered Lucky.

“Always.”  said Frieda. “But you were always hanging out with Lossey Goosey.
I never had the courage to talk to you.”

Bull-oney thought Lucky. Frieda was so beautiful.  She had her choice of any
one of ten guys.  “M-M-Me?  I always thought you were the bomb!  Why didn't
you ever say anything?”

“Too scared I guess.  You and Goosey seemed meant to be.”

She was right.  Everyone said that Lucky and Loosey were meant to be
together, and Lucky agreed.  Until now.  Although Lucky loved Loosey, he couldn't
happen to think that if things had been a little different, and he had the nerve
to talk to Frieda back in the day, things may have been different.  Very
different.

“So are you still with Loosey? “ asked Frieda.

“Er....uh.....yes...no....yeah .”

“Well...what is it?”

Loosey was back in the hotel room, sleeping.  She and Lucky were going to
meet up later at the all-you-cat-eat sushi bar.

“Yes...I guess so.” He said.

“Too bad.  If you were available, I would go for you in a big way!”  said
Frieda.  “Let me know if anything changes.”  She then walked away.

“Er..uh..quack...burp”.  Lucky's head was spinning.  For as long as he could
remember, he just figured that he and Loosey would be together forever and
have many ducklings.  But now he was not so sure.  What if he was meant to be
with Frieda?  What if he had asked her out back in the third grade?  Would they
have hooked up?  Would she be his soulmate?  Would he have a family with
Frieda?  What would his children look like, having a duck father and a flamingo
mother?

He decided that this was fate.  It could not have been an accident that he
would bump into her on this day.  Then he had a brainstorm.  He would let the
cards decide his path.  He would play one hand of blackjack, and if he won, he
would go for Frieda.  If he lost, he would stay with Loosey.  Why make a
decision when the cards could decide?  He found the nearest two dollar table.

He laid down his pennies and received two dollars in chips.  The cards began
to flow.

Lucky took a deep breath and looked at his cards:  King-Eight

The dealer showed a two.

“Stand”  said Lucky.

The dealer flipped his down card.  t was a Queen.  Twelve.  He drew
another...Two.  He drew another..........Four.  “Push”  said the dealer.

Lucky had to play another hand, but he had little money.  He searched in his
pockets.  All he could find was fifteen cents.  He threw it on the table.

The dealer frowned.

“But this is a matter of love!”  quacked Lucky.  He hoped the dealer would
understand.

“Sorry man.....you have to leave!”

“Hold on!”  said the most beautiful voice Lucky had ever heard.  It was
Frieda.  “I will deal this hand”  she said.

Lucky could hardly contain himself.  He couldn't even think straight.

Frieda looked seep in his eyes.  “Let's play some blackjack!”.

Lucky passed gas.

The cards were dealt.  Lucky looked at his cards.  They were a ten and an
eight.

“Hit me!”  said Lucky.  He had no idea what he was saying.  Hitting an 18
was unheard of, but he was just gazing at her beautiful beak.

“OK?”  said Frieda.  She was puzzled.  Did Lucky even know how this game was
played?

He looked at his new card.  Two.  He had a twenty.  EXcellent.

“Stand”  said Lucky.

Frieda flipped her cards.  She had a nine and a six.  Fifteen.  She had to
take a card.

The next card would decide the course of his life.  If she drew anything but
a six , he would go back with Loosey, and most likely have a wonderful life.
If she drew a six, he would announce his intentions to take Frieda away and
give her everything she ever wanted, as long as it was cheap.

The card was drawn....Lucky couldn't even look.

But he did.

TO BE CONTINUED...