~ Life's Gamble ~
by Ri
The gambler was leaning against a wall of the halfway house observing the people serving the people in the line. Sharp eyes found the person she sought from among the eight workers who were smiling and handing out food to down-on-their-luck people in line. An eyebrow rose, and the tall figure pushed off the wall and ambled toward the mark she sought?a lovely blonde with big green eyes that lit up the entire room. A small sigh came from between the gambler's teeth, "A bet is a bet."
The small woman poured a cup of coffee for a young, dirty woman with two small children. She smiled at the kids and asked, "Would you like some chocolate milk?"
Two heads bobbed and the woman beamed at her. "Thank you. They'd love that," said the mother, gratefully.
"I'm glad to give such sweet kids something they like."
A shadow fell across her, and she looked up and up until she saw startling vivid blue eyes in an absolutely incredible beautiful face. Dotty almost fell over she was so stunned by the look in those incredible eyes.
The tall woman smiled sweetly as the sweet green eyes met hers, intoxicated by them. She did not expect her own reaction to those honest green eyes. "Hi." Her voice was a bit rougher than normal, as she was unused to the reaction, and had to start again. "Um?I?um?"
Dotty smiled and said softly, "Hi, where is your tray?"
"I don't need food. I do need help though. I?uh, may I speak with you in private, please?"
Dotty looked down the long line and shook her head. "I'm sorry. I have to help with all these people. Then I help in the back for clean up."
"How about I come back there and help, then we can talk?"
Dotty looked nervously over her shoulder, "I think that would be ok."
Vic's face lit up with a bright, brilliant smile. "Thanks. May I have a cup of coffee while I wait? I will happily pay for it."
"No, I mean yes, you can have some coffee, but there's no need to pay. It's free."
Vic took the cup and said, "Thanks. My name is Vic by the way," holding out her hand to shake Dotty's.
Dotty took the hand and smiled, saying, "My name is Dotty.
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Vic saw that the landlord was giving Dotty a hard time and became instantly outraged. Not even sure why, she stormed over to the young woman's side.
The big man was yelling at the pretty young woman, "Listen, you witless wretch, it's not my fault you're so useless that you can't function in your family's world. Your father said you are to be useful, so damn it, get to work!!"
"I am working, all I asked is?"
"You don't need help washing dishes, you idiot!" He was about to push her toward the kitchen when two vice like hands gripped his arms and brought them behind his back in rough gesture.
The angry growl in his ear chilled his blood. "It's not nice to treat a lady like that. Now apologize!"
"But?"
"No buts! Manners. Apologize. And if I ever see you treat any woman like that again, I won't be so gentle." Vic pulled his arms back even more and knew he was in agony.
"Sorry," he muttered very scared now.
"That's a good boy. Now go do something that is actually useful!" She shoved him away from Dotty, and he ran to his office locking the door.
"Are you ok?"
Dotty nodded, biting her bottom lip, and then asked, "Why did you do that?"
"?Because he has no right to push you around. Can I help you clean up, please?"
"If you like, we can talk and I'll clean up. I don't mind. I'm used to it."
Vic smiled at her and shook her head, "No, I really would like to help you."
"Ok, after you?"
"No, after you?always," she said with an affectionate smile.
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"Which would you prefer, wash or dry?"
"Huh?"
"Would you like to wash or dry the dishes?"
Vic blushed and said, "Oh yes, I'd prefer to dry please."
"Ok, I'll wash."
Dotty washed the dishes and proceeded to efficiently stacked them for Vic to dry.
"What was it that you wanted to talk to me about?"
Vic felt her stomach drop and she said, "Um?this is a bit embarrassing. Since I talked to you and I like you, I?I really want to welsh on the bet."
"What bet?"
"I bet a toad in there I'd be able to kiss you. You see? you look so sweet and innocent that I?that he thought I'd never even get a shot. I thought if I was honest and just asked you, you'd say yes. Now I don't want to."
"Why?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why don't you want to now? Now that you know me a little, am I unattractive?"
Vic's beautiful eyes widened in shock and she almost dropped the plate she was holding.
"I'd put that plate down before you drop it. I simply asked if you think I was attractive."
Vic's hands shook as she put the down the plate. She turned into the honestly interested green eyes and answered, "Of course you are. I think you are so beautiful I?" she blurted then put her hand to her mouth as she realized what she had actually said out loud.
Dotty was surprised that she was getting to the tall beauty as much as she was to her, and was very surprised by that. "Thank you, I think you're very beautiful."
"Dotty, are you?do you? If I were to?" Vic was tongue-tied, having no idea what was coming out of her mouth, and was very embarrassed by the fact.
Dotty smiled, "You're even more flabbergasted."
Vic then noticed that Dotty had finished all the dishes and was beginning to dry them.
"Dotty, you're amazing. Hey, what are you doing? That's my job."
"I'm helping."
"No, you're doing it. Hand it over." Vic smiled beautifully, making the smaller woman blush.
They stood side by side drying silently.
"Vic, I'll kiss you if you want me to."
"No, I don't want to do it as a part of a bet. I want you to kiss me or I kiss you because we both want to."
"I'd like to kiss you too."
"Um, get to know me first, ok?"
"If you say so."
"Yes, I think that's best."
**** **** **** ****
After saying goodnight to the other workers of the halfway house the two women walked on into the warm evening air.
May I escort you home?" asked Vic, quietly.
"I drove?actually?"
"Then could you give me a lift to where I left my car," she asked with a charming smile.
"But why?"
Vic shrugged and said, "The toad drove me here and my car as at the dive where we met before we came here. If you were walking, I'd have walked you then walked back to my car."
Dotty crossed her arms still confused, "But why would you go through all that?"
Vic shrugged again, "I like you a lot and wanted to make sure that you're safe."
A smile appeared suddenly on Dotty's face, "Thanks."
A pretty blush appeared on Vic's face, "Don't worry about it?um, so can I have lift?"
"Sure, my car is right here."
They settled comfortably in the car and were quiet as she drove for a few minutes.
"Dotty?"
"Yes."
"What did that moron mean about your father and your not functioning? I don't understand that."
Dotty looked strained, and Vic was about to withdraw the question when Dotty said quietly, "My parents are very wealthy. I do not fit their lifestyle like my older sister. I'm shy and clumsy, and I hate formalities. So my parents put me in to work in places they want credit but don't want to dirty their hands with. I work at the halfway house, the mission, and an AIDS hostel."
"What does being shy have to do with functioning in high society? They are not mutually exclusive."
"I did not get into the right social groups in school. I didn't make good contacts and make the men fall at my feet so they would help me to produce the correct heir to my father's throne. I am useless to both of them."
"That's idiotic!"
"Not in their circle. Here we are," said Dotty, pleasantly, as they came to the parking lot that Vic told her to go to.
Suddenly, Vic didn't want to leave her new friend.
"Are you hungry?"
Dotty nodded.
"Do you like spaghetti and meatballs?"
"Sure."
"How about following me to my place and I'll make it for you?"
"Um?I?"
"Please?"
Dotty tilted her head to one side and nodded.
"Great!" Vic said happily. "I'm the blue Lexus sports car, and I'm only a few miles from here."
Vic and Dotty smiled at each other, a deep connection having been made in just a short time, and they were a bit overwhelmed by it.
**** **** **** ****
"Do you like it?" asked Vic quietly. She had whipped up dinner and presented the steaming bowl of spaghetti and meatballs to her new friend, waiting for the verdict.
"Oh, it's really wonderful. I love it. How did you make it so quickly?"
"The meatballs were frozen and the sauce is always ready to go. So I just did the noodles and heated everything up. I'm so glad you like it, because other than toast and coffee, it's the only thing I know how to make," said the brunette, relaxing at last.
"You mean you only eat?" she pointed at the spaghetti.
Vic laughed and shook her head. "No, I eat a lot. Thank God for pizza and Chinese food delivery, or I'd die of starvation."
Dotty laughed too. "Well, this is wonderful, you do have talent. Thank you. I was little worried about what Danny said?"
"Is Danny the jerk at the halfway house?"
Dotty nodded.
"I knew he was a crock of shit. Don't worry about it."
They ate quietly, not speaking but enjoying each other's company for a few minutes.
"Can I ask you a silly question?"
Vic winked and said, "Sure, ask me anything."
"Is Vic your real name?" asked Dotty, shyly.
"It's short for Victoria. I was such a tomboy that it didn't seem to fit. So my family gave me the nickname. Is Dotty short for Dorothy?"
"?Dorathea?after my grandmother. I love her but I hate it. No one in my family calls me Dotty. I love the name Dorothy though. I loved Wizard of Oz. I wanted to go to Oz."
Considering the kind of the family she grew up in, Vic was not surprised. "Who didn't want to go there, it was magical. I could have beaten the crap out of the wicked witch and made Oz a happy and equal world. I loved Gilda. Um, Dorothea is a pretty name. I like it." Vic couldn't believe how shy her voice suddenly became.
Dotty looked up from under her bangs and said softly, "Thanks."
Vic had a sudden impulse, which she controlled, and instead picked up a napkin and wiped her friend's chin of sauce, accidentally tickling her.
"Sauce."
Dotty smiled shyly, "I know. I'm ticklish in the weirdest places."
Like where, thought Vic then kicked herself metaphorically. Stop that.
"Your apartment is beautiful. You must be a successful gambler."
"I do all right. I'm lucky I make a good living."
Vic stood up to clear the dishes, with Dotty standing up to help her.
"Oh no you don't, you're my guest. Relax. I'll just be a minute."
"I'd like to help."
"I have a dishwasher."
"Please?"
Unable to resist, Vic replied, "Ok, if you insist."
"I do."
They smiled at each other as they picked up the dishes.
**** **** **** ****
To Be Continued?