Blue Nose was 50-1 ready for the glue factory. I had been playing heavy and into the loan sharks for over two grand. I had already hocked everything of value I could get my hands on and I had lost that also, and had borrowed from all available means possible at my disposal. I had lost by all conceivable means: photos. disqualifications, stupidity and greed, and playing a lost trade on hope and luck and numbers and dreams. I had given it all I had for the last push and plunge. I was getting seedier every day, uncombed hair, holes in my socks and shoes, tired from pink eye and no sleep, walking the streets writing down license plate numbers, and counting stars. To find the right number, the combination. The winning horse at the right odds, just to get even and not to put my life in jeopardy to the loan sharks who had already given me a deadline for the repayment of funds due them, according to a mutual agreement which was due on Saturday, April 19, at midnight.

I was perfectly happy and my heart was pounding away in my chest like a thousand guitars.