Another Sea Story - Pittsburgh in the Early 70's

So, there was little money around and even fewer jobs for kids like myself with little experience.

One night I met up with a guy named Bob who was helping his friend put a 1967 Malibu body onto a new [stolen] frame.  I didn't know at the time about the stolen.  So, hanging around, drinking beer that if we left it sitting on the ledge for more than a minute or two started to become frozen beer.  It was that cold, but for Pittsburgh in the early 70's nothing new either.

The relationship between Bob and I developed and  it wasn't long before we decided to get into an apartment together.  We were 18.

The place was the 3rd floor of This Place, The Last House On the Left.

So, as we spent our time partying and looking for employment to bring in some money, we also spent some time in various activities out of boredom.   On one of these evenings, Bob and I were playing poker, specifically Jacks to Open - Trips to win.  Briefly, you had to have at least a paid of jacks to open and at least 3 of a kind to win the pot.  But you could bluff after the open.  If you open and you don't have at least a pair of jacks you lose the pot, but if you have at least a pair of jacks, you can bluff and try to get your opponent(s) to drop out.  Hope that's clear.

In the meantime, each new deal resulting in no one having at least 3 of a kind means everyone ante's up for the next deal and the whole thing starts over again.  We had been playing a long time and not for a large amount of money for ante.  We had tried to bluff each other out several times and as a result, after close to an hour with no victor, there was 1500 and change in the pot.  That was a Huge amount of money for a couple slobs barely able to find work.

In the last hand, Bob was dealing (good thing) and he was dealt a Full House from the get go.  I was dealt the Ace and 2 of Clubs and three garbage cards.  He opens of course and with a sizeable bet.  I'm in of course.  He takes no cards. (Is he setting me up for another bluff?)  I draw 3 cards ! He must have been licking his lips !

I draw the 3, 4, and 5 of clubs for a Straight Flush.  He bets, I call and raise, he is smiling, He calls and raises, I'm smiling.  He thinks I think he's bluffing.  At the end of the calls and raises, he shows his full house.

I lay down my Straight Flush that I got drawing Three Cards! and he goes absolutely nuts.  He runs into the kitchen and tears the door off the wall and throws it down the stairs.  He runs out of the house and isn't seen again for an hour or so.  LOL.  Call me Mr Lucky.

Man he was pissed.  Stayed friends though. He was my best man twice, and I his once.