Spongebob arrived at Mr. Krabs's anchor home around 10 minutes past 9 pm. He had to take an Uber out into the further country to reach it.
"Just pull up to this driveway..."
"Alright"
Spongebob tipped the man and then opened the passenger door to get out. As the car drove away he looked at the home before him. A black anchor with dimly lit lights peeking out of the windows. There were some cars in the driveway too. Other than that it was another eerily country night with the galaxies above welcoming him into what's in store.
Spongebob walked up and tapped on the door. He rubbed against the firearm he secured underneath his pant strap. He didn't know who he was dealing with and couldn't risk anything tonight.
tap tap.
It took a few minutes but eventually the door opened to a gargantuan surprise.
"Oh, Spongebob?" questioned a surprised whale.
"Wow.." He looked at Pearl up and down. She grew more since she was in high school. Vertically and horizontally. She kept her iconic ponytail but now donned a more metropolitan look. A pink turtle neck matched with boot-cut denims and a diamond studded belt.
"I haven't seen you in a very long time, Pearl"
She chuckled as she opened the door and motioned him inside.
"Ya I think it was my high school graduation party right? Gosh that must've been two years ago..."
She rolled up her sleeves after she shut the door. Spongebob glanced around the room. It was old and musty just as he remembered it. A lone tv and worn couch adorned the green-wooden atmosphere. The walls were adorned with navy memorabilia and some family photos. He heard laughing from a door on the opposite side of the room.
He turned and faced her.
"How's college? What are you doing again?"
She smiled while plopping herself on the couch.
"Oh I adore it! I'm having the time of my life meeting so many different people and stuff..." she adjusted herself in the seat.
"I'm studying fashion...just finished my pre-reqs so I'm really getting into the theories now!"
"What do you plan on doing when you graduate?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
"I wan't do design clothes one day...but I'll take working for a magazine at least...I hope I can find a job with it" She scratched her head and looked down.
"Well, I have a couple years to get my life together. At least I got to leave Bikini Bottom...anyways...how are you?"
She rested her head on her hand and looked into his eyes. This made him uncomfortable and he moved his eyes away.
"Eh you know same ol' same ol'. Can't really say anything new is going on haha" he laughed nervously.
Pearl threw a little giggle at him and breathed in.
"Ya well not from what I've heard...speaking of the devil I think my dad was expecting you right?"
Spongebob nodded just as another burst of laughter crawled out of the aforementioned door. Pearl grabbed the remote and turned on the TV screen to the reality show Baddies South at the scene where Natalie Nunn was about to square up with Roly. Spongebob felt the cool metal glock against his thigh and made his way to the door.
"Nice talking to ya Spongebob"
"You too Pearl. I'll see ya around"
Spongebob went and knocked on the door before a muffled 'come in' replied. The anxious sponge opened the squeaky door to a blast of what smelled like cigar smoke and rye liquor. The room was made of aged green wood like the rest of the house except this room had no windows at all. In front of him was a small hallway that had a closet perched in front. To the right was the main room containing a white plastic foldable table and about eight or so plastic chairs. All of them were filled with older burly men. The plastic seat squealed as the men turned around to look at the 'big supplier' Mr. krabs was gawking about. Spongebob could tell by some facial expressions that they were expecting someone else.
Well there goes his own respect thought Spongebob.
Mr. Krabs stood up from the left side of the table and pointed at him.
"Fellers this is Spongebob...the man behind the whole operation"
Mr. Krabs went around the room and introduced all the me to Spongebob. The fry cook was too nervous to really remember anyone's name so he just nodded and took a seat across from his boss on the right side of the table. The guys were playing poker and had some money laying out. Looks like they're gambling. Shit. Spongebob didn't bring any money. How was he supposed to know? Spongebob shifted in his seat as one of the guys started dealing cards to everyone.
He took notice of Spongebob
"Ah Eugene didn't tell ya it was poker night?" He glanced over at Mr. Krabs who was laughing
"Sorry there boy-o it slipped me mind"
The man threw two cards facing down at the yellow sponges fragile embrace.
"Here. Let's just do an IOU kinda deal. I wanna play already."
Spongebob nodded and then looked at his cards. An ace of diamonds and a two of clubs. Well could be worse he guessed.
Could be better.
Two cards were flipped over on the table. A four of clubs and six of hearts. The small and big blind placed their bets which had set the precedent for the rest of the room. Spongebob put down two dollars down and waited patiently for the dealer to flip another card over.
Three of hearts.
The round went around again and one person folded before it came down to Spongebob. He looked at his cards and back at the table. The sponge saw that he has three numbers out of a possible future straight. But what are the odds of a five and six popping out next? Spongebob threw his cards in the middle to fold. It was just too risky.
The dealer across from him glanced at Spongebob's face before turning back to his cards. The man was a tall lavender fish with bulging muscles and a white wifebeater shirt. He had a small fin on the back of his head and had a shaved head. The game went on a few more times until finally three people, including Mr. Krabs, were left. The bets were at fifty dollars each and the remaining numbers showed a seven of hearts and king of clubs. The three men threw down their cards on the plastic table and after a couple seconds it was revealed that some country fish man with a mullet won with a three of a kind.
"Hell ya brother!" He hooted.
"Damn!"
"Shit man..."
Mr. Krabs look most devastated of them all. He slapped his head in frustration at the over fifty dollars he probably just lost. Spongebob looked at him in disgust. With how cheap he is with their wages and work environment why is he so pissed at spending money in a game of gamble? Almost something of pure chance? What a bastard he thought. Spongebob pulled out a cigarette and lit up for the first time in over a day. The nicotine was surprisingly strong for him and actually felt the biting chillness run through his nerves.
Spongebob became the dealer next round. He dealt the cards and the said round began.
The next few games went by as fast as the first one. Spongebob folded at the majority of them and only went through once to which he evidently lost. He started to resent this game as he was now over twenty bucks short and had nothing to show for it. When the fuck does this end? Throughout the game he caught glances of the men surrounding the table. Not one looked a day under forty. Half of them seemed like they just got out of prison while the other half probably should still be in it. Spongebob himself felt extremely out of place here. What the fuck was he doing here? Why couldn't he just have said no and continue his operation as a faceless moneymaking machine? If Mr. Krabs just wanted an excuse to hangout then he could have just been straight up instead of making it seem like it would assist in 'business relations. This is a drug ring not fucking corporate HR.
It was almost an hour later and Spongebob held a six of clubs and eight of hearts. The table had three cards: a five of diamonds, seven of clubs, and king of hearts. He was originally gonna fold but seeing the five and seven first made him hopeful for either a four or nine. If he got a straight hand, he was sure he could win. It was his turn to check or raise and he decided to check for safety. The dealer then flipped another card over and revealed a queen of hearts. The proceeding players raised their bets up to seventy dollars before landing on Spongebob.
Shit, Spongebob thought. Is it worth risking it all for a chance at two numbers? Or should he just fold and walk away? Something in his gut told him to stay. He felt he needed to prove something to these guys and not be a pansy. A couple of more guys folded.
"Hey little man you from around here?" It was the purple burly man across from him.
Spongebob matched the proceeding bet before looking up to answer.
"Ya I was born and raised here"
"Ah, a native"
The burly man nodded, placing his bet.
"I heard you're making good money nowadays, huh?"
Spongebob shrugged. He felt the room of eyes follow him as he spoke. He tried to not let it show he was bothered.
"Ya pretty good I guess"
The man laughed
"C'mon...no need to be humble. You're old bossman has been hyping you up about how much of a baller you've become"
He looked into Spongebob's eyes intently.
"In such short time too"
The dealer threw down the last and final card. A nine of hearts. Only half of the players remained as the next round of bets came about. Spongebob realized that he has a straight hand. He stared at the nine for a second before looking back at his hand. His face strted to blush at the exciting possibility of winning this round with a huge jackpot.
Oh shit.
Did he stare too long? Do they know that he has a good hand? Are they gonna see through his pokerface? He desperately needed to make his money back and he was trying to keep his eyes still. His breathing slowed as he awaited his turn.
The man before him folded as the bets rose to an extra seventy-five dollars. How much could possibly be in the pot now, Spongebob wondered. Two hundred, three hundred dollars? It was his turn and he could barely keep his hands from sweating while he gripped his cards. Should he play it safe, take a risk, or REALLY risk it all?
"Well?" Asked the burly man. "Gonna fold or take a chance?"
Spongebob swallowed while he nodded. Sometimes you gotta take a huge chance just to get what you need.
"I raise it $150"
Some audible gasps were heard and another man folded. Leaving just the purple man and Spongebob.
"Feeling confident in your hand?"
Spongebob nodded again. "Yes"
"Ok." The man smiled "Check." He slammed a couple of bills down on the table. The pot was now well over four hundred dollars and the dealer started motioning for people to reveal their cards.
"Alright y'all. Show 'em"
Spongebob laid out his hand.
"Straight"
"Alright, Spongeboy!" He heard someone say
The man in front gave a devious grin as he showed his deck.
"Flush"
His hand had two hearts and the table had three. Spongebob felt his heart sank as he saw the man hoot and holler as he arm-grabbed the pot to his side of the table. Spongebob pulled out another cigarette. Now he owes people at least a few hundred from tonight. Just what he needs.
"Better luck next time boy-o" laughed Mr. Krabs from across the room.
Spongebob got up and made his way over to the door.
"Where ya headed? You leaving'?"
"Aw he's hurt he lost all his money" someone chuckled.
"Come on don't be like that!" yelled another.
Spongebob rolled his eyes. He wanted to say something but these people looked like they would kill him really quickly. Even with a gun strapped to him. The defeated sponge pushed his way out of the door, flicking his cigarette to the ground.
Pearl looked up from the show while halfway eating popcorn from a bowl. Noticing the anger on his face.
"You ok, Spongebob?"
Spongebob grunted a "ya" before pushing through the front door. He stormed his way up the driveway and to the street. Finally away from the sight of the house, he breathed out and yelled obscenities into the open sea. How dare they embarrass him like that? How dare they fucking take all his hard earned money? Why the fuck were they grilling him about his life all of a sudden? His ears burned at the memories of past judgement and over-analyzation. He felt the gun on the side of his hip as his mind thought up of some devious possibilities.
"No...I couldn't..."
He pulled out his phone and opened the Uber app to get a ride. Away from here and into the arms of his own sanctuary.