Hobby had gone to his Palm Springs villa a week ago. I had a script rewrite to do which kept me busy. The studio was satisfied enough to give me a nice check; I was once again footloose and fancy-free. I was cruising at 75 mph on the I-10 freeway just outside Beaumont when I called Hobby. "What's up, old buddy?"
"Joe, I hope you're coming soon. I've got my hands full with this remodel. I've got a hole in my house you could driver a semi through and I just fired the contractor."
"What the hell are you doing? No, don't tell me. I'll be there in a half-hour."
The last I knew Hobby was doing some remodeling of his game room. We had talked about finding a new interior designer for him. Now it seems like he's demolishing the place.
"I just wanted to move the exterior wall out by eight feet, but look at this mess. I got so pissed at the contractor I told him to get lost. He said he's going to sue me," Hobby said in a very excited state, which for him was most unusual.
"Calm down. Let's take this from the beginning. How did you connect with this contractor?"
"Laura recommended him."
"Not that dingbat decorator you used before?" The look on his face gave me the answer. "Hobby, are you poking her?"
"Ah, c'mon, Joe. Give me a break."
"Hobby, you know better than to mix work with pleasure. Do you have a contract with this demo man?"
"No."
"What did you agree to pay him?"
"I didn't; he said after he got started he'd be able to estimate it better and then after he knocked out the wall he said he wanted $10,000 to get the job started. That's when we got in an argument and I told him to take off."
"Getting rid of him is the only smart thing you've done. He was setting you up for a big payday. Get out the yellow pages; you're going to find a licensed contractor to clean up this mess and make a proposal."
Over the hammering noise of workmen nailing a tarp to cover the gaping wound in the villa Hobby said, "Okay, Joe, I've got a reputable contractor and a job estimate, but it'll be a week before he can get a permit to get started. It's time for a drink."
Soon Hobby was his good-natured self again. I said, "Let's go downtown to Agua Caliente. I'll buy you a steak and we can play some poker."
After a superb dinner Hobby said, "I feel lucky, Joe. It works this way for me. When I've had really bad luck, like now, my house being half-destroyed, I feel I'm in for some really good luck. I wonder what they have for a high-stakes game tonight."
Hobby got into a private game that was too rich for my blood. I was content play in a $4-8 hold 'em game. I was doing alright, but I couldn't concentrate for wondering how Hobby was doing in his big game. After a couple hours I was close to break even and decided to forget Hobby and concentrate on my own game. I decided to play aggressively rather than passively as I had been. What the hell, I had just deposited a big check; I could afford to lose some dough.
I no longer waited for prime cards to stay in for the flop. Even with middling cards I bet aggressively and more often than not I chased off others or, when taken to the river, I often got lucky. "Hey, what's with you, Joe?" One of the players, who I had played with before, asked. "You're having a streak too hot for me; I'm cashing in."
"Gee, I'm real sorry about taking your money, Pete. Maybe I'll give you a shot at mine again sometime."
After Pete left, as my luck continued to hold up, others left the table. Soon it was a heads-up game and my opponent folded for good. It was too late to get into a new game so I decided to check on Hobby.
"Joe, you're just in time. I'm ready to cash in. Do you recognize anyone at the table?"
"Well, well, it's your friendly builder. Hi Adam, what a coincidence. I didn't know you were a poker player."
"I can assure you, about now I wish I was playing the slot machines. Hobby's been on fire since he sat down. He's won enough from me to pay for his remodeling."
"It's like I told you, Joe. What goes around comes around. It's karma, the balancing of ups and downs. It's like the ying and the yang of the life force within you." I'm thinking, BS, but I couldn't argue with the results. "So, how did you do, Joe?"
"Well, I didn't win enough to rebuild my house, Hobby, but by my measure, I had a great night."
We were walking out of the casino when an enraged man ran up to Hobby and said, "You owe me $10,000! I'm taking it now," he said as he grabbed Hobby by the shirt front. Hobby did a dipsie-doodle with his arms and legs. His assailant crashed to the floor and security took over.
"Hobby, I'm thinking he's your first contractor. Am I right?" Hobby nodded a yes and I said, "How would he have known where to find us?"
"I called Laura to tell her about my winnings."
"Hobby, I'm coming close to writing you off."
"Geez, Joe, don't do that. I realize I've been an idiot because I've had the hots for Laura, but as of now I'm done with her."
"Think of it this way, Hobby; it's karma," I said with tongue in cheek.
"Yeah, you're right, Joe, it is karma."
Write to author David Valley at: dvalley1@san.rr.com
