Play The Game

“EIGHTEEN, NINETEEN, AND TWENTY,” Jesse said, counting the bills into Danny’s hand. “We’re square.”

“But the bet was for twenty-five,” said Danny, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. 

“I bought you lunch yesterday. We’re square.” 

“All right, fair enough.” 

“Doesn’t matter, though. This here is the real gem,” said Jesse, reaching into his fishing bucket to pull out a baby snapping turtle. 

“You and those turtles,” Danny chuckled. 

One day Jesse asked him, “Why do you do this? Why are you always betting?” 

“Because it’s a game, Jesse. Life is a game. You have to play your cards right.” 

“You always have a way with words,” Jesse said. 

“It’s not about the words,” Danny replied, “it’s about understanding people, understanding Life.” 

Danny was only fourteen and carried too heavy a load for such young shoulders. His father was a mere memory, and his mother was trapped in the relentless grip of addiction. Danny navigated through childhood alone, learning tough lessons along the way. Out of necessity, the streets became his home. 

Danny liked to set up a small table outside a local betting shop in town. He had a knack for snagging the regulars as they left, roping them into a quick poker game or a bet on whether he could guess their card. His confidence was infectious, and it was his most endearing trait. You could see it in the people, smiling as they handed over their cash without thinking twice. 

Jesse was more of an introvert who kept to himself if he wasn’t spending time with Danny. His room was his sanctuary, and he shared it with all sorts of fish, reptiles, and amphibians, most of which were gifted to him by Danny using the earnings he made on the street. 

Life went on, though, and the two friends, on different wavelengths, eventually parted ways. 

Danny, constantly at odds with authority, had difficulty maintaining steady work. He was set on carving out his path on his terms. 

He dipped his toes into the business world, but his relentless greed—his worst trait—was his constant companion. He crossed paths with dangerous individuals. One after another, his choices led him to a final violent showdown that ended his life. 

The news of Danny’s death hit Jesse hard, putting a wedge between him and the town he once called home. In the wake of the tragedy, Jesse found peace again with his first love. 

He’d check out books and spend hours observing the local wildlife at the beach. He was drawn to the sea’s mysteries, steering his path to a Ph.D. in Conservation Biology from a prestigious college. 

Upon completing college, Jesse found work studying sea lions along the coast of California. His job filled him with purpose, but an unexpected opportunity surfaced… an offer to venture into the icy wilderness of Antarctica. 

At first, Jesse hesitated, wary of such a drastic change, but better pay and the spark of adventure eventually swayed him. 

A few years later, Jesse was knee-deep in ice and snow, his days devoted to studying Weddell seals. The storms were relentless, and the solitude unbearable. His project was nearing its completion, with just a month left. Yet each day in that frozen landscape felt like an eternity. 

Back at the base, the team saw him as an outsider, a rookie. The higher-ups were considering extending his stay by another six months. Jesse was good at his job, but he’d rather study guppies and be by the beach than stay another day in Antarctica. He hopped on the first flight out. 

Jesse made one last stop at his hometown, visiting the lake where he and Danny used to go. He indulged in deep soul-searching as he skipped stones across the water. 

Suddenly, a movement in the water caught his eye. It was a massive snapping turtle emerging from the deep lake. Intrigued, Jesse moved closer for a better look. The turtle was a magnificent specimen, the finest he’d ever seen at the lake, but it appeared distressed. 

Upon closer examination, Jesse noticed a fishing line wrapped around its neck. Without wasting a moment, he rushed to his car and retrieved a pair of wire cutters. The typically aggressive creature remained calm as Jesse carefully removed the line. Once freed, the turtle slowly turned and disappeared back into the water. 

Jesse felt a profound sense of liberation as he watched the turtle retreat. It was as if, in freeing the turtle, he had also unshackled a part of himself. 

Jesse made one last stop to visit Danny. With a tear in his eye, he laid a single card on his grave, the Ace of Spades. Written on the back was a note that read, “Life is indeed a game, Danny, and I think I figured out how to play. Rest in peace, old friend.”