When I picked up my cell phone, at first I didn't recognize the caller.
"It's me, Joe. Bill Eaton. You met me at our poker club with Hobby."
"Yeah. I remember you, Bill. What's up?"
"Did you know that next Friday is Hobby's 50th birthday."
"I guess I should, but no, I wasn't thinking about it. Do you have something in mind?"
"I do. See what you think of it. At the Indian casino they have this decade birthday poker party for the 30th, 40th, 50th and up, I guess.
They provide a table for ten with a dealer, party favors and champagne, and run it like a tournament. The buyin is according to age, so for Hobby's it would be fifty bucks. It lasts a couple of hours. What do you think?"
"It's a great idea. You have any problem coming up with ten guys?"
"Not at all. Shall I put you down?"
"Absolutely."
"Great! One other thing.
We want it to be a surprise to Hobby. Can you bring him?" "Sure."
I didn't have any problem getting Hobby to agree to go out to the casino. I never mentioned his birthday and he didn't either, but I suspected he had been expecting some recognition and was a bit glum that he didn't get it. He was unusually quiet on the ride out the 10 freeway until he said, "You know something, Joe?"
"What, Hobby."
"Today's my 50th birthday."
"Really! I'm sorry I forgot, I didn't even get you a card. Well, I'll treat tonight. How's that?"
"Sure, Joe," he said without a lot of enthusiasm. We left the car with the valet and went directly to the poker room. Near the rear there was a table festooned with balloons and a giant one that read "Happy 50th Hobby."
It didn't click with Hobby until I pointed it out and said, "Looks like somebody remembered."
Talk about turning on a person's lights-Hobby's face lit up like a Christmas tree. When all his buddies surrounded him, I thought he was going to cry. All he managed was, "What a surprise!"
There wasn't much serious poker for our table and as the champagne flowed we got a little rowdy; enough so that a player from an adjoining table came over. "You guys don't own the place. You better quiet down." If he had said it in a friendly way, we would have accepted the rebuke in good humor, but he delivered the remark with a hard edge.
I wasn't surprised when one of our guys stood up and said, "Or what?" and squared off against the interloper. The pit boss hurried over to smooth things over and get everyone seated. The incident cooled our ardor a bit, but was soon forgotten. After about two hours the blinds had risen high enough that there were only three left in the game. They were declared the winners and the pot was divied up.
Everyone was in a party mood as we headed to the lounge. This was part two of the surprise. All of our lady friends, wives, or what have you, were there to greet the Birthday Boy. A huge chocolate chiffon-cake (Hobby's favorite) with a big white five-O was the table centerpiece.
This was too much for Hobby. He began to slobber and sputter as he tried to express his gratitude.
Bill Eaton, who had planned the affair, stood up and said. "Hobby, we are all thrilled to spring this on you and have such a great time.
But it's not over yet. There's a one more part to the surprise. We've booked rooms for everyone here at the casino hotel, so the party can go on with no worries about getting home."
All but Hobby knew we would be taking rooms so we hadn't exactly been too cautious on the drinking, but with the ladies present-they had been partying while we finished the poker-there was a new excitement a-buzz.
Hobby stood to make an announcement and mumbled his appreciation, which was less than memorable, but finished with a great announcement.
"The only way to enjoy chocolate-chiffon cake is with Harvey Wallbangers, I'm ordering a round."
Hobby was right on. If you enjoy occasional sweets, the CC and HBs are to die for-not to mention paving the way for more drinks and revelry. It was a birthday party celebration not to be forgotten by Hobby's friends, and maybe by some who were not so friendly. The lug who had accosted us in the poker room showed up with two of his buddies. "I see you and your friends are still making like you own the joint," he said with a sneer.
This had the makings of a rumble, but we were more interested in enjoying our party. I intervened in a humble way suggesting, "Gentlemen, how about you guys enjoy your evening and let us enjoy ours."
Fortunately, members of the casino staff moved in quickly to usher the thugs away. We went back to partying and dancing.
A six-piece group played a lot of 60s and 70s music that we enjoyed so much in those years gone by. I found out later that it wasn't by accident; another good move by Bill Eaton. I never realized that Hobby was such a slick dancer. His girlfriend, Suzy, is not big on dancing but didn't seem to mind when Hobby teamed up with Alicia who had been a professional dancer. They did a that was spectacular.
At one a.m. the band finished for the night and by this time we were finished, too.
Most of the ladies had already gone to the rooms and Hobby and I were getting the stragglers headed in that direction. We were the last ones to clear the area and were walking into the hotel lobby when we ran into trouble. The same three guys that had rousted us in the lounge were back for more.
"We've got you now and there's nobody around to save your sorry asses."
"Now, just one minute," I said trying to clear my head to the present danger, "we've all had too much to drink.
Let's just call it a night." I had anticipated Hobby jumping in and starting a melee and wondered if the drink had really gotten to him, but now he stepped up.
"You guys are getting to be a nuisance, but I don't want to mess up this nice place.
What do you say we take it outside?"
"Are you serious?" the bully asked and followed with his cohorts as we went to the parking lot.
A guard at the door said, "Everything alright?"
"Sure," I said. "We'll be right back."
In a quieter voice one of the thugs said, "Yeah, in a body bag."
Once we were clear of most of the cars, Hobby went into the face of the ring leader and said, "Are you sure you really want to do this? My hands are lethal weapons."
He delivered the line like Peter Sellers playing the hapless Inspector Clousou. It got a laugh as the lug swung mightily, but Hobby ducked.
The other two birds and I were just spectators.
"Smarty-ass, huh. Trying ducking this one." He swung even harder, another miss.
Now the bully was getting red in the face, maybe from the exertion or embarrassment or both. "I'll fix you," he hollered as he launched a big boot at Hobby.
Hobby smoothly grabbed it in mid-air and absorbed the energy with a swinging twisting motion that sent the attacker sprawling. "Get the bastard," the now injured one shouted from his prone position. As the one closest to me started moving toward Hobby, I grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around. While he was still turning toward me I shot a right-hook directly to his jaw. It landed solidly and the recipient staggered and dropped, out cold.
The other guy left standing began to circle around Hobby, but it was clear that his heart wasn't in the fight. Hobby held his palms up and said, "Let's call it a draw. We've got people waiting for us inside."
"Okay," the reluctant fighter said as he also noticed a golf cart with security people approaching.
"What going on?" one asked.
"Well," I answered, "those guys fell down and may need some help. We were going to, but now that you're here, we'll go back inside. That okay with you?"
They looked at each other and one said, "Sure, we'll clean up the mess."
As we walked back toward the hotel entrance Hobby said, "Joe, this has been my best birthday, ever, but I think you're loosing some of your punch. In the old days the guy wouldn't have staggered, he would'a dropped immediately."
"Maybe I am loosing a little of my punch, Hobby, but I've still got plenty left."
"I wouldn't bet against you, Joe." Hobby grinned.
