Kaching rang the bells of the slot machines.
“Having any luck, friend?” a stranger asked as he pulled the lever for another spin.
“Oh, I’m not playing,” I said. “Simply—observing.”
“Who comes to a casino and doesn’t gamble?” he asked.
“I suppose I do. Then again, the thrill of watching others win and lose is more entertaining than pulling a lever or hitting a button over and over. It always amazes me how others find it amusing.”
“What’s your name, friend?” he asked as he fed more money into the machine.
“People call me Neon.”
“Neon’s an interesting name. You from Vegas?”
“Not exactly. But I’ve lived here for a while now.”
He continued to spin the machine—small wins compounded by big losses.
“I know I’m close to a bonus. I can feel it!” he said, sliding his last hundred into the slot.
“Of course you are, friend,” I said. “Just keep going. You’ve got this.”
He spun the reels again and again until his balance dropped below a dollar.
“Damn it. Guess I’m out, friend. Maybe I’ll have better luck tomorrow.”
“I’m sure you will.”
He walked away, and my essence felt light.
He didn’t have to lose or win—only play.
He fed the machine, but every spin fed me.
I wandered the floor and found a table with a few empty seats. I sat down.
“You playing today, Mr. Neon?” the dealer asked.
“Nope. Just observing and conversing, as always, Mark.”
The table placed their bets. Some won. Some lost. It didn’t matter. Their thrill was my thrill. I basked in it, grew from it, resolved from it.
“It’s always nice having you at the table, Mr. Neon,” Mark said.
“Thanks, Mark. I love watching people play—and you’re dealing. You really enjoy this work. I can tell.”
“I do, Mr. Neon. It’s a shame it’s going to come to an end soon.”
“I’m sorry?” I said. I felt my voice tighten around the word. “What do you mean?”
“The government decided gambling’s no longer legal, Mr. Neon. We’re closing at the end of the month.”
“I see.”
I drifted back onto the floor. I tried not to let the shock take hold, choosing instead to focus on those still engaged in the games. I sat with them. Absorbed them. Indulged as deeply as I could until the day finally came.
They locked the doors, casting a long shadow across the casino floor. A shadow—
named Neon.
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