I own nothing.

"Heya Min. Yer late." Race called as she walked in.

She laughed and sat down happily between Race and Blink. "Yeah, I know. Penny ante?"

"'Course. Let's start already." Boots said, and he dealt out the hands. There were six of them playing: her, Race, Blink, Boots, Jack, and Skittery. Jack had his hat pulled down low over his eyes and he stared disapprovingly at his cards. He wasn't a poker player.

Boots called for cards, and Skittery asked for four. He showed them the ace of spades, and he was handed his cards. Upon receiving them, he laughed and folded. Blink took two and made no response. Jack took three and grinned slightly. Race took one and closed his hand inside his palm. She looked down at her own cards. Pulling them one by one from behind the others she tried not to hold her breath.

Three of diamonds.

Six of diamonds.

Two of diamonds.

Five of diamonds.

Four of clubs.

"Shit." She whispered, and all of the boys grinned. "One cahd Boots." He slid it to her, and she picked it up slowly. Not letting a shred of emotion taint her face, she lifted it into her hand.

Four of diamonds.

Straight flush.

Still letting no emotion show, and she met the four cents that had been put into the pool.

"I see dat, and raise four mo'e." She had amazing luck in her first hand. It happened in nearly every game, she would do sensationally well, then mediocre for the rest of the game, but came out ahead most of the time. It was practically tradition. Race Jack and Boots all stayed in, while Blink folded out. By the time the betting was done and Jack had called, there was close to a dollar in the pool.

Because of the seating situation the call went first to her. She humbly set the hand down, arrayed so all of them could see it. Jack threw his cards onto the table with a scoff. Boots didn't even bother to show his hand, and started laughing. She smiled and paused to apologize to Race.

"Actually. I'se guess I'm sorry too." He responded. He set down his hand, and she moaned in anger.

A second straight flush.

In spades.

Four through eight.

Race stuck a cigar into his mouth and pulled in the pool. Most of the room was laughing unstoppably, and she couldn't prevent a smile from breaking over her mouth.  

"Not faih Race, not faih." She muttered, still grinning.

He winked and she began laughing with the others. Without the first burst of luck, Min failed to do as well as usual, but walked out with a couple dimes over what she had started with. Race offered to walk her back. With the trolley strike in full motion, nobody went around at night alone if they could help it. He and Jack walked her back to her building. They paused to watch a short scuffle between a scab and a striker. They also watched the bulls take the striker into the slam.

 Jack stayed in a shadow when the bulls were around, but when it was done, they all were talking sarcastically about the 'great' headline.

"Man Slapped in da Face; no Majoh Injuries." 

"Trolley Woikah's Can't Fight."

"Scabber Screams like Girl, no offense Min." Race added.

"None taken."

They made sure she was safe in her room, waved to her brothers and then left. She kissed her brothers' foreheads, and climbed into her chair, curled up and fell fast asleep.

Yes, it is short. Please, PLEASE review. JJ