Birth of the Mystery Shack (Alternative Version) Part 3

Stan's Narrative

As I was saying, it all started on a Friday night in 1963, at the "Hot Nights" club in L.A. I'd come to L.A. to look for business opportunities and clubs like the "Hot Night" were always hotspots for activity, particularly the kind involving gambling.

Unfortunately for me, lady luck wasn't into me at the time as I rolled the dice hopping to get my lucky numbers…

"C'mon, double fives, double fives," but instead got my unlucky numbers instead.

"Double sixes! NOOOOO!'

'Sorry Mr. Pines this just wasn't your roll," replied Steven; the guy running the game.

"Again," said James; one of the jerks who I'd been playing against. And as he said this, everyone at the table I was sitting at began laughing at me.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha."

I wasn't going to sit there and let those jerks run over me, so I did what any man in my position would do. I pulled out my wallet and yelled, "all right let's do it." Though to make matters worse, I'd ended up betting my last dollar in the last game, and it appeared everyone could see that I was broke.

"Sorry Pines. No money, no game," Steven told me as my anger erupted in range.

"AW COME ON YOU JERK!'

'Hey I'm not the one who bet all their money on double fives. Seriously, why do you always bet double fives anyway?'

'Because if I don't win with them, I still win," I said as I raised Puncho and Breaker, (his fists), at the unfair slime ball. Though that ass whole who started the laugh fest decided to get himself involved once again.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold your horses Pines. Let's be reasonable. Heck I've got an offer for you that doesn't involve either you losing more money, or getting arrested."

I was desperate at the time, so I took a chance.

"Go on.'

"I'm prepared to bet half the money I won from you, and more," saying this he pulled out some old, rolled up piece of paper.

"The deed to a valuable house once owned by a mysterious scientist who specialised in supernatural. Rumor had it he vanished twenty years ago after unlocking a portal to another dimension.'

'Ha, ha, ha, ha! You think I'm stupid? This sounds like one of those guys from the movie ghost busters. Well guess what, I don't believe in that supernatural shit.'

'Well I guess you don't want your money back, or a free house?"

Like I said, I was desperate, however, I don't bet without knowing the cons.

"And if I lose?'

'Just run around L.A. in your underpants saying James Jones Johnsons is the greatest dice player in history for twenty four hours straight. But since I'm such a nice guy, I even throw in a map to the shack if I win. So what'd ya say?'

'James, you've got yourself a deal."

We shock hands, then James called for the dice

"Steven, give me the dice, I'll roll this time. After all Mr. Pines hasn't been doing so well rolling, and I'm trying to be a nice guy, even though I would love to see him humiliate himself in front of the entire state, (the last part he whispered to the ladies standing beside him).'

'Ha, ha, ha, ha," laughed those no good jerks.

"Ya, ha, ha, very funny. Now roll the dice James before I do something you regret.'

'Alright Pines, I'll roll for two and three, and I assume you'll choose double fives as usual?'

'You know it."

It was the most suspenseful moment in my life; in one hand I was winning my money back, and a free home, in the other I was losing pretty much all my dignity. Though it was too late to call it off, I'd made the bet and there was no turning back without throwing away even more of my pride than what was already lost. All I could do was watch as James slowly shook the dice in his grubby hands, let them roll onto the table, turning as they eventually landed after what felt like years of waiting to me, on… double…. FIVES!

"YES! WAHOO! IN YOUR FACE YOU SPOILED, KNOW IT ALL! HAND OVER MY MONEY ALONG WITH THE DEED AND MAP TO MY NEW PLACE.'

'Alright, here you go Pines. Good game by the way. Though next time you play dice let someone else roll for you; those hands of yours are bad luck. Ha, ha, ha…"

That was the last insult he gave me that night. Because I punched him so hard in the face that he went out cold. Fortunately though, the cops let me go so I was off the next morning to my new home. Not much point in sticking around; despite the opportunities, I wasn't doing so well in raking in the dough. Also I might've been band from L.A. for knocking James out and a few other supposed crimes of fraud. Hey on the bright side, I got to keep my winnings so booyah.

Anyway, the point is I left L.A. and was off towards my new life in Gravity Falls.

TO BE CONTINUED…..

So here we have it; the story behind how Stan Pines won the Mystery Shack. Though this is not the end, we still don't know how he got the first journal, or turned his home into the tourist attraction known today as the Mystery Shack. The answers to these will be answered in the following chapter(s) coming up, hopefully soon. So stay tuned.