Chapter 80

After one hour, the butler returned to fetch the Gusman family and bring them to the Casino.  The whole family was excited because it is their first time to play in a Casino. The most exciting ones were mommy Fely and Mang Jessie.  They have devoted their whole lives to helping others, so this is their first time to enjoy like this.

"Are you ready?" The butler asked.  He was dressed very well. 

Mang Jessie looked at himself and felt a bit humiliated because of the simple clothes he was wearing.  The butler noticed this and joked...

"Mang Jessie, do not worry.  Even if you go there wearing nothing, no one can snob you.  Hahaha!"

After a while, everyone was ready...  They were happily telling stories while riding the elevator.

'If only Ma'am Ashley can see this, I'm sure she will not leave Sir Jones ever.  It's too bad that grandma is putting on a show, else the newlyweds could have enjoyed more.  Sigh!' Ruffy sighed loudly while thinking. 

The Gusman family was surprised and looked at him worriedly.  Father Jessie could not withstand his curiosity, so he asked. "Ruffy, if we are a nuisance, it's ok that you don't accompany us.  We will just look around and not gamble anyway." Mang Jessie said calmly.

The butler was embarrassed, so he quickly raised his hand.  "No, no... I just breathed deeply because I was thinking about your child.  If only she were here, then it would be merrier, right?" The butler made half-true excuses, actually.

When they all heard the butler, they all got sadder and grew quiet.  It was as if they were inside a funeral home while going down the elevator.

The butler decided to keep quiet also, or he might have a slip of the tongue.  For sure, he'll be done for with Tanaga and Ashley. A few moments later, they reached the Casino floor.  One by one, they went out of the elevator as they came out of a funeral. No one was speaking.

The butler went in the Casino first while the Gusman family followed.  Frowns replaced the happiness and smiles on their faces, and no one even reacted as they passed by the slot machines and table games.

The butler was worried.  He felt that it was his fault because he reminded them of their youngest one, who needed to be far from them so that she could give them a good life.  The butler tried to be lively and find a way so that the Gusman family would enjoy it.

"Ok! We are here in the casino.  Why are your faces like that? You should be happy so that when I report back to my boss, I will not get fired." The butler joked.

He continued, "What would Sir Jones think if I say that you did not enjoy it.  Especially, Ashley, she would worry, and she might not even finish her contract… that's a big problem if that happens."  

When the Gusman family heard that Ashley could have a problem, they quickly changed their faces and forced themselves to enjoy. They started to be curious again with the sots and tables games that they passed.

'That's right.  You have to enjoy...If you only knew what your daughter had to sacrifice just to give this to you.  Oh, life!' The butler thought as he went to the Cashier-cage to get the money that the Gusman will use to play.

The butler excused himself for a while from the Gusman family and went inside the Cashier-cage.  "Please wait. I will just get the money that SIr Jones left for you." Then he went inside.

When he came back, he was with a cashier and a security guard standing behind them.  The cashier was carrying a tray full of ch.i.p.s while the butler brought some envelopes.

He handed out the envelopes one by one to the Gusman family, who was hesitating to receive it or not.  The looked at their parents first and waited to see what to do.

Mang Jessie was the first to receive the envelope.  "Thank you!" Then he nodded to his kids and wife to receive theirs.

Arman: "Thank you!"

Arthur: "Thank you!" 

That is what also Ariel, Arnold, and Arnel did.  "Thank you very much!"

The last one to get was Mother Fely.  When she received her envelope, she was close to tears and hugged the butler.  "Please give this hug to my youngest one. And thank you to Sir Jones. Not for this, but for the way he treats my youngest one." 

The butler was also overwhelmed by emotions and hugged Nanay Fely back.  "Do not worry. I will tell everything to SIr Jones and Ashley." He suddenly remembered the ch.i.p.s that the cashier was holding.

"Ah, who among you wants to play table games?  Raise your hand and tell me what game you want to play so I could give you the right ch.i.p.s to use?"

Arnel was the first to raise his hands. "Me!  I want to play poker."

"Ah, poker, alright.  Here are the ch.i.p.s you need.  Let me explain these ch.i.p.s." The butler showed each chip so that he'll know what the value of each based on the color is.

While the butler was explaining, Arman, Arthur, Ariel, Arnold, and Father Jessie were listening intently.  The butler noticed this also, so he suggested if they want to practice first so he will prepare a private table.

"Ruffy, may I just ask...These ch.i.p.s, do they cash value if we play with other players?  Like if we win or lose?" Mang Jessie asked.

"Hahaha! Of course.  The face value is what is written in front.  These are not just playing ch.i.p.s but the real ones that the players here use when they play poker."

"Ah, is that so? Then, I think it would be better if we practice first.  Just us only so that we will not lose the ch.i.p.s." Mang Jessie asked his sons.  "What do you think? Can you beat your father?"

They laughed so loud at the question of their father because they know that their father is a cheater every time they play.  He resorts to hiding cards in between cards when they play tong-its (card mahjong), but poker is different because he cannot hide cards.

"Call!" they all answered in unison. "We can do this.  You might not know what poker is." Arnel kidded his father.  

' Hah! If you only knew that I every time I don't have a trip or patients…. I would play poker on my phone.  Let us see. ' Daddy Jessie thought while smiling...