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Ben got out of the car hood. He wiped his greasy hand with a dirt rag and stared at the Toyota minivan he had just brought back to life with the money he recently inherited from his dead mum with the promise of not going back to his old life of gambling and drinking.
This time he meant it. He was all about his family now. His wife, Ella and their two-year-old son Martin. He was ready to be a better husband and father to them.
He cleaned his brows with the back of his hands and sat down on a bench nearby admiring his work. The old Toyota Sienna van he had left to rot because his gambling addiction sucked him dry he couldn't afford to maintain it anymore. Now, watching it kick back to life was something fulfilling for him. His path to becoming a new human.
But his thoughts were broken with a noise from behind. He turned to see an old acquittal Jay stagger into his workshop drunk.
"Jay?" Ben called out to him, standing up to help him sweat down.
"Ben, I'm so happy I saw you", Jay replied, his breath reeked of alcohol.
"What brings you here?" Ben asked instead, looking concerned and uncomfortable to see his old friend.
"Can't an old friend just stop by?" Jay asked with surprise on his face and his words slurry.
"I never said you can't. But at least don't show up drunk, and you already know I'm trying to live a sober, free life. What if my wife sees me with you?" He asked angrily.
Jay laughed "Relax, I'm not drunk. I just came with a business deal for you" Jay replied.
Ben could tell it was the alcohol that was speaking. So he didn't bother to argue. "I'm not interested in whatever business you came with. Just don't show up to my house drunk again" he warned.
"You didn't even ask me what the deal was"
"I didn't because I'm not interested," Ben raged.
"It's a rigged game that can double your inheritance for you and make you retire early with your family. Isn't that what you want?" Jay wasn't backing down.
Angrily Ben stood up and dragged his friend to his feet. "I think it's time for you to leave." He said, helping him to the door.
At the door Jay slipped his hands into his pockets and brought out a crumpled paper with some numbers scribbled on it. "I was going to ask for a pay before giving you the code. But because you doubt me, here is the code, You can play that later and see for yourself," he pushed the paper into his friend's breast pocket and turned to leave. "Just remember who made you a millionaire when you win," he added.
Ben stood there watching him stagger off his compound. "Old habits die hard", he muttered and walked back to his workshop.
A few days later, Ben stood over the washing machine, stuffing it with dirty clothes and making sure he emptied each pocket. Just a few clothes through, he ran his hands on his old work clothes and felt some ruffle. Pulling it out, he saw the code Jay had given him a few days earlier. It was a two-odds game; he hadn't noticed it early because he did find the courage to check.
Now holding the paper in his hands and staring at the codes. He felt nostalgic and had thoughts running through his mind.
What would it hurt if he took the risk and doubled his inheritance with the two-odds game Jay had promised was rigged? He thought of the promise he had made to his family to buy a house by the sea where they'd all live happily ever after. He thought of the plans he had to open a new mechanic workshop with modern automated equipment. He couldn't believe at that moment that he was fighting with his mind and conscience on what to do.
Finally, without a second thought, his conscience won as he found himself grabbing his jacket plus the bag that had his inheritance and walking out the door to the betting house. He was going to take the risk.
“Just one game,” he muttered. “Then I’m done for good.”
He got to the betting house and placed the code on the counter. "Play that code" he commanded the punter.
"With how much?" The punter asked.
Without taking a second look at the bag, Ben placed the bag on the table "With all that"
The punter opened a part of the bag and gasped at the amount inside. "Sir, that's a whole lot of cash, are you sure?" He asked a question that felt weird to Ben. He knew betting houses did not care about how or where you got the money to bet.
He looked at the punter one last time. "Yes, I'm sure". He didn't know where the courage came from but he believed Jay that the game was already rigged and he was going to win.
A few minutes into the game, Ben was already rejoicing as his team was winning. He began thinking about all the beautiful things he would buy with his win. He thought that he was going to give his family a better life and retire a rich man.
But his joy was short-lived in the last minutes of the game. As the opposite team scored an equaliser just seconds before the whistle blew. They found the net again, ruining his ticket. Ben couldn't believe what just happened. He dumped himself to the floor as he heard the final whistle blow and his inheritance gone with it.
With anger, he called Jay threatening how he was going to unalive him. But Jay didn't see himself to be the cause of Ben's problem.
"How will you believe the words of a drunk man that a game was rigged, Ben?" Jay yelled back from the other end of the phone. He was not remorseful but adamant that Jay was the architect of his problems.
Ben felt his head spin, he held his head with his hands as reality sank in. He just let his old habits ruin him.
Just when you are about to quit, your village people will want to tempt you again.
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Ben shouldn't have listened to him as he already got a big loss due to his bad habits.
He was greedy