The first race is the 100m meters freestyle set for noon. This means that I pick the boys up at about 10 and we head for the pool, some 10 miles through terrific traffic. My laptop is stowed safely in the trunk of my car. At the pool the boys run off to change, I find myself a perch high up in the stands where I will not be interrupted and I log into an online casino. I play the slots, choosing a glitzy chrome machine with flashing lights that is marked Progressive Jackpots. This machine accepts only $1 coins and I play “Max Coins” for every spin of the wheel. I turn the volume down to almost minimum so no-one can hear the noise of the coins dropping but where I will still hear the sound of the jackpot bell.

I have a lot of fun. I pause now and again to watch what’s going on in the water and I see that grandson is doing pretty well. He gives me thumbs-up from time to time I wave back to him. On this multi-line 4-reel slot machine I often manage to line up 3 lemons or 3 cherries but the fourth one remains elusive. Money drifts in and out of the credit balance and sometimes rises to quite a big number, but there are no major jackpots.

The public address system announces that the relay races are about to start and I take this as an omen, meaning that I should change games. I switch to the game that is rapidly becoming my favorite, Texas Hold’em poker. I find a table in the online casino with an empty seat, place my bet and am dealt an 8 and a jack. I raise my bet and wait for the flop. An 8 and a 4. I have a pair of 8’s. Should I bet again? I am distracted by yells from the pool. My “carload” just won the boys medley race and they’re jumping around with excitement. I stand up and cheer and wave to them. I miss the turn and lose my money. These swimming galas can be dangerous…

Posted on: June 16, 2008

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