Chapter Text
Luke
This is the biggest risk I have ever taken. I cannot afford to lose this wager. It is quite literally all of my life's savings, All the money Reggie and I earned through endless nights of busking in dodgy corners is at stake.
If I lose, I'll only have my guitar and the old shirt on my back, which frankly is tattered and mangy, and provides no defence against the cold Southampton rain. I should have probably considered that before tearing down those god awful sleeves.
But if I win these tickets, I can finally set up a new life in America. Finally away from my parents and their overbearing plans for my future, no more running around in the shadows playing in dodgy corners for fear of being caught. This new world; it’s full of opportunities. And, I can almost taste it.
I grip the neck of the guitar through the threadbare sack I had stored it in. She is my lucky charm, A ticket for my new life; A life where I can follow my passions and stay connected to my dreams; A life where my music touches the souls of those like me. She is my everything.
I hold on to it for dear life and make eye contact with Reggie as my opponent picks up the last card.
A royal flush!
I holler as I place my cards on the table, quickly gathering the tickets from the hands of a begrudging lad, who shakes my arm in a punishing grip. It takes all my strength to not wince at the pain.
“We better get going, mate” Reggie says, “she sets sail in the next half hour and the dock is twenty even if we run”.
I glance down at my cracked watch to see that he's right. I gather all our possessions and coins into the gunny sack and grab Reggie’s hand as we rush out the pub.
I run as fast as I can in these worn shoes, pushing past various people. We dodge through the streets, taking shortcuts and cutting corners. There's a much bigger crowd today than usual, everyone waiting to catch a glimpse of the massive ship about to set sail on her maiden voyage.
I arrive at the dock just as the men are starting to raise the anchor. Reggie and I clamber on board as the wooden plank is retracted.
Reggie runs out to the deck and grips at the railing. It is crowded by passengers at every inch possible, waving at the chock a block of people at the dock.
It's truly marvellous to think of all the people aboard the ship, just like us, leaving everything behind for a fresh start at life.
“Goodbye! I'll miss you”, I hear Reggie's voice next to me as he starts waving along with the farewell bidders.
“You know somebody?”
“That's not the point!” he rolls his eyes at me and continues hollering along with the hundreds of people next to us.
“Goodbye! I'll never forget you! Bye!”
I can't help but join in as we cheerfully set off.
“We are going to be legends in America!” I lean in to Reggie as I say this, “Cheer on, Reg! Because once we reach the ‘Land of Opportunity, everything changes.”
Julie
“‘The Land of Opportunity,” I scoff internally, “more like the ‘Land of Oppression”