Late at night. In the cold and scary potion of Little Debbie lane, in a building that houses Colonel Keeblers Shop. Deep in the basement in the back, in a wee little room, filed with the vial stench of cigar smoke, huddle four dark figures. They have gathered here tonight like they have once a week for the last several months now to discuss the tuffest plans and how to be victorious. And tonight, there seams to be a little more pressure on them then in the past, as if more is at stake. They all look at each other with icy cold stares, and hardly a breath is heard as each waits for someone to say something.

"Knock"
"Double "
"Double, how the heck can you Double, your cheating, guys he's cheating again "
"Now Tony, you know Slick laid it fair, the Double is good "

Tony looked at his hand. He would either have to 'move' or 'reverse' . And for some reason, Slick always had a 'walk' in his hand whenever he 'reversed'. But if he laid a 'move', it would have to come around the table to him again, and he didn't have a 'walk' in his hand. He looked over at Vinny sitting across from him. Vinny always had a perfect bones face, no expression at all. But he would take his chance that Vinny could pull one hand off, then after the game he would collect some money.

"Move "
"Crown "
"Knock "

Darn Vinny didn't lay a good card.

"Move "

Double darn. This meant he had to lay the...

"Reverse "

As he lightly tossed out the card.

The little Gnome smiled back at Tony. Slowly pulled a card out of his hand as if to tease him. And with a flick of the wrist a card twirled on to the top of Tony's card's

"Walk "
"NO WAY, NO ONE WINS TWELVE STRAIT GAMES, IT JUST CAN'T BE DONE, GUYS HE'S CHEATING I TELL YOU. CHEATING, CHEATING, CHEATING "

Tony stood up and yelled. Pointing at the Gnome as if to accuse him of the most felonious crime known to mankind. Cheating at 'Bones'.

"Settle down Tony. Slick's just having a hot night, like he has for the past two months"

And another pair of icy looks tries to stare down the miniature human.

Tony had tried to figure out why slick was so lucky at 'bones', and it had cost him a lot of money. But to no avail, he just couldn't catch him cheating, and Tony prided himself on being able to catch people cheating. Either slick was the luckiest person in the world or he had found a way to win at the game that was automatic.

Tony looked at his depleted pile of money in front of him, then over at Vinny's pile, and then at Warder's, and lastly at the growing pile that sat in front of Slick. He thought to himself maybe he should call it an early night before he losses any more. But, the night was still quite young. And with the Tippelfestmas celebrations going on there would be lots of people on the streets this time of night that would see him walk out of Keeblers.

Warder Spoke up..

"You know, I'm gettin' kind a' hungry . Slick you wouldn't want to spend some of your, or should I say our, money and spring for a pizza??"
"Well.. I guess I could. But I'm not going to make it a habit. And who's gonna go get it ?? We're in the middle of the game"

That's when Tony had an idea..

"Hey, we'll make one of the elf's go get it. They're always complaining they don't get out anyway"

Tony walked to the door, opened it up and yelled out to some blackened faced elf working at a cookie cutting machine. Motioned the elf to come over. In a few minutes the four had haggled their order out and it was decided to get one large gummy berry and one large chocolate roach pizza. And then the Young Elf was sent off to the pizza shop, so the four could continue their game.

Slick shuffled the cards and began to deal them out. Once again Tony watch very closely to see if slick was dealing properly.

"You know, I almost pity those poor suckers going out to Lake Deepbottom. They're gonna get smashed "

Warder pounded his fist into his hand as if he were hitting them himself.

"Bam, bam, bam, you know. Boy I bet it'll look ugly. I wish I could be there to see it"

Vinny and Tony both looked at Warder.

" Yeah, finally that half-orc will get what's commin' to him"
"Sure will be sad to see that Bard get it thou, did I tell you guys she's in love with me??"

Slick stopped dealing as three sets of eye looked straight at Warder. Tony tried to muffle a chuckle but just couldn't quite keep it in.

"pppfffffffffffff, yeah sure she is, and I'm gonna win this next game"
"Anyway, after 'M' gets rid of those folks, then C.K. and us will be able to run this town with no goody goody hero's to bother us"

The quad play two more hands ( slick wins them both ) before the elf arrives with the pizza. Tony gets up and gives the elf the money for the order, then hands the elf a little more, as a tip. Now Tony wasn't normally into tipping anyone. But since it was the Gnome's money, Why not ??

This time Vinny dealt out the cards. Tony looked at his hand. It looked good. Maybe the best hands he had ever saw. And the cards started to get laid on the table.

"GO "
"Knock "
"Pass "
"Knock "
"Reverse "

This was it. All he had in his hand was a 'Walk'. He was going to win. After fourteen hands tonight he was going to win one and not the gnome. His heart started to race, his fingers were shaking, his teeth chattered. Tony watched as Warder laid his last card on the table.

"Spy "

Spy?? No, he thought he saw it come out already. He looked at the 'Walk' in his hand. Then at Warder, then at Slick. A smile started over Slicks face again as he realized the same thing Tony realized.

"Come on Tony,, play your card "

Already Slick was pulling out the card he was going to play, as his smile was getting bigger . Tony shoulders sunk down. The only way he could win now was if Slick would lay 'reverse'. Tony gathered himself together and began to think positively. He laid his card.

"Walk "

Slick once again gently tossed a card onto Tony's pile with a smile.

"Knock "
"NNOOOOOOOOOOO..."