Glass (Crank 2)

a casino. The windows

are tinted almost black,

and the neon inside defies

the notion that it might be

getting light outside.

But one thing I do

finally notice is how

the restaurant lines

are growing longer.

People want breakfast.

Which means it must

be later than I thought.

“What time is it?”

I ask a passerby, and

his answer blows me

away. Six after nine.

Twenty-four minutes

until church starts.

We’re going to be late!

Just let me finish this

hand, Dad says, watching

the blackjack dealer flip

a card and bust. Oh, yeah!

Guess I’m cashing out.

Why am I cashing out?

I’m on a regular roll.

“Cash out, Dad. We’ve

got to go. Hunter’s getting

baptized in less than half

an hour. I probably ought