Game 2: First Time on My Own
Okay, sorry it has been so long between posts. I’ve been playing a ton of games and have been ridiculously busy. But, I’ve been keeping a journal and will be inputting from that some, and live updating some.
I decided to go back to the game down by Wall Street again last night. The game had not run in a few nights – I guess everyone was still recovering from the last game – but around 5PM yesterday I received a text from an unknown number “1-3NL 2nite 7pm xxx Xst.” Now this is how these games are advertised. Every night a game runs, the organizer (usually the dealer) sends out texts to everyone in his list letting them know when and where the game will run.
I set out for the game, this time without Jacob or anyone else I knew, just me heading into the New York night, a fold of 6 slightly worn hundred dollar bills lining my front left pocket. I felt almost invisible. I passed a police officer and he had no idea where I was going, but I did. I cockily winked at the NYU girl walking into Murray Hill. I was part of a New York that almost no one knew. I was a New York City underground poker player.
I got off the 6 train at Brooklyn Bridge and walked down towards Wall St. and the luxury building hosting our underground card room. I could have sworn the doorman gave me a slight nod as I passed, but I did not want to stay to find out. Into the elevator and up 5 floors I went, praying the young yuppie couple with their teacup poodle did not get out at the fifth floor. What would I do if they did? How would I explain where I was going? All of a sudden my cockiness was gone and I felt a sense of paranoia. Thankfully, my fear was short-lived. I got off at 5 and the couple kept going up.
I turned right and entered the door marked storage and… I was all alone. No other players, no large Puerto Rican, no chips, no cards. Just me. Well, upon a closer look, just me and a poker table in the back room. At least I was back at the right place.
Finally after waiting for half an hour Jaimo and his buddies walked in. They greeted me like they’d known me for years, rather than one night a few days ago, and apologized for being a little late. They try to get people there by seven, they explained, but often the games don’t get started until later.
