LAS VEGAS!

When Gregg hears that we are going to be in Las Vegas for one night, he said, "I’ve always hoped someday I would invent a system to win big bucks. Now’s my chance. I’m going to carry $300 in my pocket so I can gamble whenever I want."

The first time he approaches a slot machine in our hotel lobby - security guards come out of nowhere, yelling, "Children cannot come within ten feet of the slot machines."

He hates being called a child. He has cash in his pocket and wants to spend it, he wants to gamble. It would be a victory - a victory over this damn illness, he could cheat time, by doing something that he legally wouldn’t be allowed to do for three more years. But he won’t be here in three years when he’s twenty one...if he’s lucky, he’ll have two or three more months.

That night, his dad, Jack, plans on taking him to the hotel casino. We all brainstorm as to how we can make Gregg look older than his 18 years. He puts on a shirt, necktie, dress pants and a sport coat. If the guards asks for his identification, he can say he left it in the hotel room. I convince him that he can easily pass for 21.

So like two old cronies, Gregg and Jack go into the casino. But Jack blew it! After a few minutes the security guard comes over to them and asks Gregg his age. Jack doesn’t say "twenty-one" as they had rehearsed in the elevator. He says, "Oh, I thought you could be 18 to come in here, as long as you are with a parent."

The security guard mumbles, "I’ve heard that one before. Then he politely throws them out.

Gregg is determined not to leave Las Vegas without gambling. That’s all he talks about and thinks about. Then he comes up with a scheme......

The next morning, we check out of the hotel. Our motor coach is waiting outside the door, we can see it from the lobby. There are some slot machines near the exit door and no security guards in sight.

The two of us saunter over to the slot machines. I am armed with quarters. Gregg’s plan is put into action. I stand next to Gregg casually looking around. We act cool. Standing very close to each other Gregg makes it look like he is leaning on the machine with one arm. I pretend to put a quarter into the machine, but Gregg is really inserting the coin. I pretend to pull the lever, but Gregg is really pulling the lever. Our arms move as one. We both are great actors. We are sure the overhead camera thinks we are two hick tourists trying to figure out how to work a slot machine.

I also put on a loud voice and say "Oh Gregg, look at this cute machine. I see all the fruit...strawberries, cherries, lemons. Let me read the directions ... blah ... blah...blah"

The first quarter goes in. Nothing happens. We are not surprised. We glance at the overhead camera. It’s not moving. Maybe hotel security isn’t even watching, it’s only 8:00 in the morning.
I pretend to insert another quarter, but Gregg is really doing it. We both hold our breath as the coin drops into the machine. Gregg pulls the handle again, and again nothing happens.

I tell him, "We better leave. The coach driver will be getting mad. Everyone is waiting for us."

"Once more...please."

I agree and once more we do our routine. I am constantly looking up at the camera, and whisper, "I feel like a criminal."

Gregg loves the excitement. He doesn’t care about the the hotel security anymore. He pulls the lever, watches the fruit spin and then it happens. They match! Three oranges in a row! Coins start pouring out of the machine. Gregg is shocked, and starts shouting,

"Victory, I did it! I did it! I pulled one over on you guys. I gambled and won and I’m not 21!"

He scoops up the coins, shoves them into his pockets and runs out of the lobby, never looking back,. As he jumps onto the motor coach he yells to everyone, "I won! I won! I gambled and won!"