Payday

Benjamin “the Gambler” Phillips sits in a dark corner of a pub while enjoying a beer. He looks around to see that no one is nearby him and gets out his cell phone, making a phone call and putting it on speaker.

Phillips: Hey, Jimmy! How ya doin’, buddy?

Jimmy: What do you want? You got me my money? You owe me ten large, you know.

Phillips: What? Ten large? I thought it was only eight? I have a job now. I can make payments and stuff.

Jimmy: Yeah, I heard you landed a wrestling gig. And what, you expected me to not add interest on to what you owe?

Benjamin takes a swig of his beer, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

Phillips: The first show is coming up, Jimmy. I thought I would see about, you know, placing some bets on the matches. When I win, the winnings can go toward my debt. If I lose-

Jimmy: You’ll owe me more. Fine.

Phillips: See? It’s a win-win situation.

Jimmy: Whatever, man. Let me google the first AGW card up here. Got it. First up is Malaki against Brandon Moore. Who’s winning and how much you wanna bet?

Phillips: This being the first card, I don’t know much about these guys, but I got good feelings. You know what I mean? Brandon is going to defeat this Malaki guy and I’m willing to put down a thousand dollars.

Jimmy: A thousand dollars? You sure you want to bet so much on a match where you barely know those involved?

Phillips: Yep. I think I’m going to do a thousand on each match, except for the main event which I want to be four thousand. When I win every single bet? You and I will be straight.

Jimmy: Until you make your next bets that is. Fine. Ares against Lauren Harris.

Phillips: I can’t bet against the God of War. So, I’m going to go with Ares.

Jimmy: You know he’s not really the God of War?

Phillips: It’s a play on words, I know.

Jimmy: Fine. Next up we have River against Laniakea.

Phillips: How do you even say Lanika? Lanikar?Whatever. I’m going to go with River.

Jimmy: It’s Laniakea. Anyway. What about Lexi Star against John Steele.

Phillips: Lexi Starr all the way. John Steele sounds like such a porn star.

Jimmy: Fat Jared against Dane Bramage.

Phillips: See? This is where I say that this has got to be something of a joke match. Who calls themself Fat Jared or Dane Bramage? I guess I’m going to go with Fat Jarek on this one.

Jimmy: Rosalyn against Scourge.

Phillips: Scourge? Is he really serious? I’m going to go with Rosalyn here easy.

Jimmy: And finally for the main event, Scotty Adams against you.

Phillips: Is there any question? I’m going to win my first match in AGW. I mean, of the names that we’ve gone through tonight. I have at least heard of Scotty Adams in passing. I think he might be a talented wrestler, but I’m a talented killer. I think that’s going to make all of the difference in the ring.

Jimmy: You going to kill him in the middle of the ring? You dog, you.

Phillips: I’m not going to be killing anyone in the middle of the ring unless I’m forced to. I will be defeating Adams though and clear up my debt with you.

Jimmy: Are you sure you wanna do that? You won’t have any betting money if you just win enough to clear your debt with me. Let me tell you what I can do, since you’re a dear friend of mine. Let’s double all of the bets so that when you win, you’ll gain ten thousand dollars instead of having nothing.

Benjamin Phillips is silent while he thinks it over. He finishes off his beer and signals to the waitress that he would like another one.

Jimmy: You still there, bro?

Nevermind the fact that if somehow he loses all of the bets that he’ll owe thirty thousand dollars. He can’t lose. Right? He is a wrestler and wrestlers know their business.

Phillips: Yeah, Jimmy. I’m still here. Yeah, go for it. Double all of the bets. I’m going to be sitting pretty with ten thousand dollars!

Jimmy: And once you owe me thirty thousand dollars, I’ll be collecting.

Phillips: Nah. I’m good, man. Good.

Jimmy: Alright. I’ll be watching that show, Phillips.

Benjamin hangs up the phone as the waitress brings him another beer. He lights up a cigarette, taking a drag, and blowing smoke into the air. He grins.

Phillips: This is going to be a payday.