Paragraph Planet

Last Hand

I leave the window cracked open so she can feel the summer night’s breeze; we read ‘Brown Bear’ before I tuck her in the backseat; good luck daddy, she whispers; casino’s dead; table to table I jump, winning/losing until a dealer snatches my last chips; I run outside; the sun stings my eyes; she’s still under her blankie, binkyless, unmoving — probably having a lucky dream; time to get my money back.