Poker that night seemed pointless: none of them had any real money. So they were betting marbles or tobacco or dares. Jack, Specs, Mush and Race sat on a bunk near the window, a single lamp burning on the windowsill. Skittery dangled from the bunk above them, reading his cards upside-down. The brown bread bag, after going through the younger boys, had found its way to the center of the circle of boys, and every so often a hand would reach in and scoop out some crumbs.
"Fold," Mush sighed, throwing down his cards and staring expectantly at the other boys. Skittery groaned, "Yeah, me too."
Race peered out of his poker mask at Jack and Specs, whose glasses reflected the light and dashed it in Race's eyes.
Jack placed a marble in the center of the circle.
"I see your bet, and raise you two," Race said, placing three marbles on the mattress.
Specs frowned. "Raise one more." He placed four marbles in the circle.
"Aw," Jack muttered, "I ain't got no more."
"So bet a dare, Jackie," Mush urged.
Jack shrugged. "Alright then. So what's my dare, fellas?"
"Run naked through the square!" Skitter joked wildly.
Race rolled his eyes, "Jack's had to do that so much everybody in the square knows what his bare ass looks like."
"You got a better idea?" the tall boy snapped back, and Race blew smoke at him, trying to ignore the guilt sloshing in his stomach.
"Tell Dave you wanna 'go further than kissing' with his sister," Specs suggested rapidly, his eyes glinting.
Jack's jaw dropped, as the other players laughed their approval.
"C'mon," He said, astounded, "that's cruel!"
"A bet's a bet!" Specs cackled.
"Ok, I'm outta marbles too," Race admitted hesitantly, "but I ain't runnin' through the square in this weather – no way."
"I got one for you, Racey," Mush said mischievously, "You tell us about the little reason you've been smilin' and starin' into space so much lately."
There was a collective noise of suspense and scandal.
"That's your dare." Jack winked.
Specs laughed. "You two's getting' to competitive for me – I fold."
"Call," Jack said decisively, and laid down his cards with a grin – three of a kind.
Race's jaw dropped – he's been so sure Jack was bluffing!
"Alright, Race, 'fess up!" Skittery demanded.
"I really dunno what you'se is talkin' about. I ain't actin' any different from normal."
"Sure," Mush interjected, "'Sept you'se got a girl!"
Someone gasped.
"C'mon." Race leaned pack, puffing on his cigar.
"Ok, maybe not yet, but you'se got someone in mind."
Jack was watching the conversation with his arms crossed, purposefully avoiding Skittery's glance.
"I ain't even shown my hand yet and you'se guys are interrogatin' me!"
"That her?" Mush grinned, leaning back against the window. Race automatically leaned forward, and saw a little old nun waddling across the square.
"The hell it is." He shoved Mush, who was laughing riotously.
"It's none of your damn business, alright?" Race said, arching his eyebrows sitting back down, collecting his poker hand.
Skittery grinned, "I knew it. You'se got a girl."
"'Bout time, too," Mush said, sitting back down, "We were startin' to think all you was interested in was horses."
"Yeah," Specs laughed, "Horses and poker. And I hear they're pretty bad in bed."
Race rolled his eyes, "Hey, at least I'm good at what I do." He laid down his card, "Straight flush, palies."
Jack groaned.