Faust Legend

The Art of Gambling

By: Zoie Uznis

“Here lies Ronald Granger,” the tombstone reads, “Loving father, faithful husband, honest and just.” What is not known is that this tombstone tells a lie, a lie that many have known but none have revealed. Ronald Granger was neither honest nor just. No, Ronald Granger was a liar and a gambler. He gambled not only his money away but his and others lives as well. Yes the intentions may have been good at first but the road to riches is not always one walked with honor.

It was January 23, 1969. Ronald bates, better known as Ron, rushed through the blurring black sleet that surrounded him. The hospital was only four miles away but in this weather it would take the time equivalent to nine miles. Ron was no stranger to the many twists and turns on the winding path to the hospital. It was where his three children were born and where his wife Luna’s death had taken place. A sense of déjà vu had set over him. He had traveled this same path in almost the same weather conditions two winters ago when Luna’s last heart attack occurred. To this day he still regretted the events that caused her death. If only he had had more money to use at the casino. If only his luck would have changed just once that night like it should have. And now racing through the sleet the thoughts reoccur in his mind.

When Luna was alive she stayed home all day with their three children Rose who was now seven, James who was five, and little Tobey who was about to turn four. Ron would leave at 6:30 A.M. to catch the bus to work since they had had to sell the car to make ends meet on their last mortgage. From the bus station he would walk two miles to get to his office. He was a contactor at Dumble & Sever Construction Co. Where he had diligently worked for eleven years. When he had first received the job he was a high paying man who pinched every penny he ever earned. But that was before Luna had gotten sick. Luna had a heart condition that had no cure. She would get severe random heart attacks at any moment of the day. When she had first gone to the doctor none of the operations were to expensive for them- they had saved up their emergency money years ago incase something like this had happened. But over the course of five years the operations began to grab a hold of their expenses. Ron began to gamble his money to try and earn a little extra cash to put towards his wife but had no luck. On January 3, 1967 Luna looked up at Ron and he knew this was her last minute of life. After fife years, twenty-three operations, and several loans, Luna passed away leaving behind a five, three and one year old for Ron to take care of by himself.  Something snapped in Ron that day. He had loved Luna so much he would have done anything to save her. He blamed himself for her death. If only he had had the money.

One year after Luna’s death Tobey who was now two was rushed into the hospital. Doctors concluded that Tobey had inherited the faulty heart of his mother. This was his first heart attack. It was a miracle that he survived through the night but to Ron it was just another bill. The Granger family was almost homeless at this point from the loans that had been eating away at Ron’s salary. Ron leaned over Tobey’s sleeping body after the surgery and thought of the casino. He thought of the millions he would win to save his child. Before the doctors could reach him he sprinted out the hospital doors and went straight to the Seminole Bar and Casino- his new home.

He had received the call only twenty minutes ago at the Seminole Bar and Casino where he had been playing a very unlucky game of Black Jack with his months paycheck. His phone rang and in an instant he flipped it open to answer it without even a second to speak his annoyance Dr. Martin delivered the news. Tobey was in urgent care again. Ron grabbed his three remaining chips and sprinted to the dealer to get his highest winnings of the month- fifty dollars.

The sleet had turned into a blizzard by the time Ron reached the hospital. He ran up to the third floor and found Dr. Eric Martin standing over what could almost be a skeleton of a three-year-old boy.

“How bad is it doctor?” Ron asked impatiently as if the question should have been answered without him asking.

“His vitals are the lowest they have ever been Mr. Granger. I’m afraid if we don’t do the final surgery tonight Tobey won’t be here in the morning.” Dr. Martin replied.

“I told you we have no more money. Is there anyway that we could take out another loan? I just went to the casino I won-“

“Mr. Granger,” said Dr. Martin, “Maybe if you saved you paychecks we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“Don’t tell me how to save my family! I know what he needs and how to get those needs to him!! Just give me an hour that’s all I need. I’ll have the money.” Ron exclaimed exasperatedly.

“Fine…. One hour and not a minute more but be careful out there Mr. Granger we’re sitting in the middle of the fiercest blizzard of the decade.”

But before his warning could be uttered out of his mouth Ron had already disappeared into the blinding snow.

Twenty minutes later Ron was no more than a mile from the hospital. His hands and feet were numb from the wind and he could barely see an inch in front of his nose. As he veered around the corner a small light was visible in the distance- a fire. Ron rushed towards it as fast as his snow-covered boots would go. When he was less then a yard away he began to slow down. Something wasn’t right. The fire was giving the trees around it shimmery almost wet haze. Ron walked over to the closest one and put his hand on it. The tree trunk was wet with a red sticky substance. He shuddered when he realized what it was. He walked towards the fire to warm himself up so he could continue on his way to the casino when he noticed an abnormal branch roasting in the flames. It looked somewhat like an arm. He leaned in to take a closer look and saw that it was indeed an arm. Bits of flesh sparked on fire and the bone shriveled to a dark charred black. The pieces clicked together. HE shouldn’t be here he would be framed instantly with his history of alcohol and gambling he could never prove himself innocent. As he turned to run away a big gruff man appeared from the shadows. He towered over Ron by a good foot and wore a black hooded cloak that covered his entire body besides his face. His skin was red and raw and his eyes were so black they seemed bottomless.

“Going somewhere?” he asked coyly.

“Oh um well yes I um was going to the casino,” Ron stuttered. “You see my boy is sick and I need the money in about…thirty minutes so I really must be going.”

“Well that’s a shame. You see I was just warming up by the fire. Come sit for a few minutes warm yourself before you continue on.” The stranger said. The fire seemed to be mirrored in his eyes almost as if his eyes were the fire themselves.

“Well I guess I could,” said Ron who was transfixed by the eyes. “But only for a minute.”

Ron sat down a tree stump next to the fire across from the man. The man stared at him curiously looking at him with such desire it shook Ron’s soul.

“You know that if it is financial trouble with your son I could assist you.” Said the man.

“Oh no I can do it myself plus it is way to much to ask for it will set my back four months paychecks.”

“I have an enormous amount of wealth all you have to do is ask, in fact, I have a better idea, how about a trade? A little barter never hurt anyone.”

“Well I guess… What would you ask for in return for $57,000?” Just hearing the amount made him see the casino lights.

“There is one thing I desire… and only you can give it to me.”

“What is it? Please tell me my sons life depends on it!”

“Your soul.”

Ron stopped for a moment and looked at the man in disbelief. His soul? What on earth was he talking about? Maybe he was a runaway from Johnsons Mental Facility up in the next town.

“You think I’m crazy don’t you?” said the man.

“Yes I mean no I don’t I mean… wait how did you know what I was thinking?” said Ron.

“I know many things about you Ronald Granger. About Luna and Tobey. About your gambling. I can make the strain go away Ronald I can make it all end for just your soul.”

“Yes I understand that but my soul? How on heaven and-“

“Don’t you dare mention that place!!!!!!” yelled the man. A burst of flames exploded from his body burning away the cape exposing his true form. Under the hooded-cloak appeared rams horns growing from the man’s skull. His chest was that of mans chiseled and fit but his legs were of a goat with a tail to match. His skin was as red as the fire around him and his eyes blazed with a hatred only seen in nightmares. Ron sat paralyzed with fear at the sight before him. He knew exactly whom this man, this creature was. It was Satan.

“Please don’t kill me! I have children I have a job they need me please sir!” Ron cried out.

“Mwahahaha!” the Devil laughed a laugh that shook the entire forest. “Like I would waste my power on you. No Ronald all I want is your pathetic excuse of a soul.”

“Never! I will save my son on my own without this evil doing!” shouted Ron.

“Boy you will never make it in time without my help. You’ll just go and gamble the night away like you have been doing for the past two years!”

“Tobey needs me he does-“

“If you love your son like you say you do prove it.”

“How tell me! I will take any challenge you have. My children are my life they are all I have left.”

“Then trade your soul for the money to save Tobey. With this operation he will be cured for good,” said the Devil now thinking. He looked at Ron and started to grin. “Lets make it a little more interesting shall we? I will give you the money. I will save Tobey’s life if and only if you turn around right now and deliver the money to the doctor. If you don’t do as I say dire consequences will be put in place and you will rot in hell for eternity.”

“Yes please yes give me the money!” said Ron his mouth watering as the smell of paper money filled his nose.

The devil snapped his fingers and in an instant a contract and a long, burnt, black-feather quill appeared out of thin air.

“Just sign this and follow my demands and your son will live a long life.” Said the Devil.

Ron took the quill and winced as it singed his hand. He quickly scrawled his name onto the paper.

“There done, give me the money please!” Ron begged.

Another snap of his long dirty fingers and a case fell to the ground where the snow had melted away from the heat.  Ron scrambled over and picked it up. He opened the case and saw the most money he had ever laid eyes on in his entire life. Two by ten rows of this packs of money lined the case.

“$57,000 just like you asked. Now go the clock is ticking.” Said the devil and in a burst of fire and brimstone he vanished from sight. Ron looked around quickly, shut the case, and sprinted towards the casino. He would never know Ron thought to himself. Just a few measly dollars nothing big. He checked his watch. There was still thirty minutes until the deadline for the money. Amazed at how no time had passed he hurried into the Seminole Bar and Casino. Just ten dollars he thought that’s all that I will bet. Twenty minutes later he sprinted out the door with the case crammed with $70,000.

“That dumb demon he didn’t think I could turn his little challenge into a bonus for myself now did he.” Ron thought to myself.

The snow had cleared and he reached the hospital with three minutes to spare. He ran up to the third floor to see Tobey. As soon as his foot hit the landing he heard a scream. He sprinted case in hand into his young sons room to find him unhooked from all the machines not breathing. He was dead. The corpse of his three-year old son lay on the hospital bed. Ron sat down dizzy with shock. He put the case down and put his head in his hands and started to cry. As he cried he felt himself getting hotter and hotter. He didn’t think anything of it. All he could see was his son and his mistake.

“How dare I play with the Devil’s game,” He cried. “Why didn’t I just go-“

Suddenly a hand covered his mouth searing his lips shut. A snake like tongue tickled his ear and he heard it whisper,

“Because cheaters never win. Welcome to hell Ron.”