Quickly the game has a strange turn of events for Helen and I. Helen and I keep throwing high numbers while Coach keeps getting low numbers. All three of us only need to get our final pawn home to win the game. We are in a virtual dead heat. My fatigue leaves me as I grow excited at the prospect of winning. I have a good chance of winning, it’s just a matter of the dice tumbling right. Coach has nothing on me.
I begin to think that perhaps I have approached this game all wrong. Perhaps the more games I win, the sooner I can leave this room. I’m determined to end Coach’s ten game winning streak.
It is my turn to throw the dice. I am able to count that Coach is only 20 spaces from home, Helen is 41 and I’m 39 spaces away. I rattle the dice in my hand and throw a pair of threes! Because I threw doubles I move fourteen spaces as a bonus and also get to throw again. And to my surprise I throw doubles again! This time it’s a pair of twos! I move another 14 spaces. I quickly count that I only need 11 spaces to get home. I hold the dice tightly in my hand and shake them for a long time like Coach does and throw the dice to the table. I can’t believe it! I have thrown a five and a six! I win! Eagerly I move my pawn closer and closer to home as I count out the spaces. I hear Coach moan in despair while Helen oohs and aahhs as I draw my pawn closer and closer to home. I win! I hear Coach mumble something about “of all the rotten luck.”
I feel exhilarated. I win! I want to laugh with joy, but I restrain myself so that the others won’t think that I’m gloating in my victory. I feel confident that it is now time to leave the room. I lay the dice down and push my chair away from the table and stand up. I walk briskly to the door, but before I can touch the doorknob, the door swings open and to my horror the same two men come into the room and surround me. One of them wraps his strong arms around me while the other pulls out a blackjack and begins to beat me upon my head and chest. I cannot protect myself as the blackjack flails upon me. With each crack, shock waves spread across my face and chest. I grow weak and limp and the man who has been holding me lets go of his grip and I crumble to the floor. I feel the warm ooze of blood trickle from my forehead and onto my eyes and cheeks. One of the men gives a sharp kick to my ribs and I let out a grunt. I curl myself into the fetal position and hear their heels click out of the room, closing the door quietly behind them.