Boob Tube Blackjack Baron

 

We bought this new generation of video game systems

back when Pac Man and Space Invaders

were the electronic charms that captured minds.

 

This innovative Fairchild machine

hooked up to our television,

allowing us to gateway to visual playgrounds

where you could be a World War One Ace,

a race car driver or downhill ski racer.

 

But the one that truly riveted and challenged

was the blackjack game,

giving a person the chance

to play a round of twenty one

against the computer casino.

 

My brother and his wife

came over one Friday night,

I didn’t know he were gambling addicts,

thought they really went to Vegas

for the cheap meals and rooms.

 

The moment he took that control

there came a ravenous look in his stare,

tongue sticking out,

hands nearly shaking from being so obsessed,

following each winning a hand

he would scream and throw his arms in the air

like he had just earned a championship.

 

I couldn’t believe how he let that program

totally turn him into a zombie,

after three hours I knew he was beyond help.

Had to trip the circuit breaker to get him to quit

with his eyes still dancing

mumbling he needed to break the house

before his red faced while escorted him out to the car.

 

Lost my enthusiasm for playing that card contest,

while my brother went back to Nevada

apparently convinced he was now an expert.

Never did ask how he did

merely noticed he didn’t talk about going there again

also got a second job,

saying he had to pay off debts from his trip.