Whats in the case?

 Art took a deep, much needed breath after blowing his last note of the afternoon and began gathering his sheet music.

"Good job today fellas" He said over his shoulder, hurriedly stuffing sheet music into a leather book at his feet." Tonights gonna be a good show. Hope you all like the changes."

"Love em! were just glad to have someone heading up the brass who knows brass. Charlie's little piano diddys aint got much to em." Leonard scoffed taking of his sax. "Wanna grab a drink Artie? couple of us goin down to Old Glory's."

"Ah I cant, Lisa's expecting me at the pool." Art said fumbling to get his trumpet in its case. "Already late"

oh man! how do you keep a girl like that waiting!?

AHH your done!

Get outa here man or im gonna take er!

"Yeah yeah fine go off and chase the princess you fuckin' horn dog." Leonard said and gave a dismissal wave. "How the hell did a guy like you-"

"Yeah and whats that like eh? What kinda guy might I be Lenny?" Art said standing up with his gear in hand.

"Woah man I dont mean nothin by it!" Leonard said throwing his hands to the sky. " What you got in that case anyway? You packin now? Yer Mob sweetie got ya a Thompson for yer birthday?" The room laughed.

"Eat it- Ill see you all tonight" Art jogged out of the theater.

Art smiled at the green and gold carpet of the casino floor. Hed never led a band before. hed never played infront of as many people as he would tonight. And hed never kissed a woman as beautiful as Lisa.

"What you lose a nickel Artie?" A thundering voice spat, breaking Art's cloud walk.

"Mr. Green, uh, no I-" Art studdered as he came back to the real world. " I Ju-"

"Kidding pal, where ya headed?" Charlie said swinging around next to Art and throwing an arm over his shoulder.

"Im going to meet Lisa at the pool, were getting dinner before the sho-" Art started to smile again at the thought of the girl but was interrupted again.

"Ohh no no she went off with some old friends to get a drink," Charlie said waving his hand. " You know these girls, one second there waitin' on ya the next they're half way down the strip spending someone else's chips! HA! " He swung around once more, now infront of Art. He grabbed Art by the shoulders and grinned " Whadya say you and I get into a little trouble eh? Take your mind off the big show?"

"Well, I dont know she said she'd be there. Shes always been good to her word." Art said, shaken by Charlie's enthusiasm.

"No no no, I saw her take off with my own two eyes! Would I lie to my new band leader? You can trust old Charlie! Now come on I know  a place we can really let lose." Charlie swung back and practically shoved Art along.

They left through the back door.

The sky had gone red.

The desert disappeared.

All that was left was the strip.

All that was left was electric light.

The top of my glass, and the bottom of that pool.

When the sun wants to shine in Vegas, the rest of the world must get a chill.

"Ha! you have to be kidding me!" Hewitt rang out, gawking at the forest of a cocktail in her hand. " I appreciate the drink sir but I feel you may have flattened the rainforest to bring it to me!". She laughed, every part of her shaking in a way that could have made the cold war a boiling one.

"For you my dear I would lay to waste the collective flora and fauna of all the Americas." Singin' Charlie said dragging a smile to one side of his face. If there ever was a gentleman is was Charlie. And if there was a god, he wouldnt have made him such a rich bastard. "where is your little friend," he paused and feigned a thought "Arthur?"

" Well he should be finishing the rehearsal for your show tonight, shouldn't you be there? Or do you work as a server now?" She replied sliding her foot into the crystal clear water of the pool before her. The way she sat on the edge of that pool made every one around look cheap, sunning on their pool chairs. The green tile of the pool softened, the white top hat at the bottom- distorting and dissipating  as if the bow to the queen of the strip.

"Oh sweetheart I've been doing this quite a bit longer than old Artie. I know my material better than the back of my hand." Charlie said extending his tan claw. "but yours..." he went to grab Hewitt's free hand.

"Im afraid not Charlie," Hewitt said withdrawing from his advance. "Thank you for the drink." She pulled her hair back and slid into the pool.

" Im sure your coming tonight," Charlie said adjusting the golden top hat cufflink already perfectly fastened to his glowing white sports coat. " for Art?" He smiled as he turned and left.

Miss Herwitt set an untouched drink on the edge of the pool and spun slowly backward into the water.

The crowed was starring.

The sun was setting.

Whats flat and green?

"Thank god my shoes aint got holes in em! hahaha!" the Gambler to Art's right coughed; a  mixture of regret and smoke clouded by a laugh.

The Dealer handled his scythe like a killer and pulled in the man's chips. That sound of wood on felt somehow beating out the slots, the cheers, and the brass from the lounge. Dealer wore a red vest with a white top hat on the breast, and a collared shirt that was probably white at one point, but was now a veteran cream. The man was so used to the smoke he'd probably choke if he left the building, but he was a lifer and he wore that on his sleeve.

Art's hand sank into his pocket hoping to feel at least one cold chip rattling around- all he felt was his last sliver of paper folding over at each knock, four sweaty knuckles. Theres a difference between cash and chips- at least that was they'd tell ya.

Before his dice hand had left his pocket Art stumbled into the marble counter of the cashier.

"Uh, here, give me a five, and five one dollar chips." Art said slapping a ten on the cold counter.
He took the weight of his feet and dropped his elbows on the counter, starring at the clerk with his eyes and running out the door in his mind. Running back to a girl. Running back to July with 2 pockets full of green and white chips. "The Dapper Gentleman Casino" starring up at him, and making promises.