Before You Gamble... by Natasha Kofnovec

Oliver needed money. He needed it badly, and quick. Not many thoughts ran through his head. He could only think of money. ‘How the hell am I supposed to make $5,000 in two days?’ Oliver is a twenty five year old living in a two bedroom apartment with three roommates. He can’t make enough to survive, how can he get this money? Why might he need $5,000 in two days? Well, Oliver has a slight problem; an addiction of sorts, he is a degenerate gambler. At the age of twenty five, Oliver has lost all of his savings, his inheritance his parents left him for college, and worst of all, his Grandfather’s prized watch Oliver was gifted before his Grandfather’s passing. Oliver has been gambling for three years. He had to drop out of his senior year of college because he could no longer afford classes. He couldn’t get any loans because of his debt. And look what has happened now; Oliver has gambled again. He lost $3,000, but he borrowed the money to gamble from the wrong man. Big Mack was exactly what he sounds like. He was a huge man built like a Mack Truck, dressed in ill-fitting expensive three piece suits, loafers, and silver rings lined over half his fingers. If you saw him, you would think he jumped straight out of a 1920s gangster movie. He dressed in fine threads, but you knew he was no gentleman by the way his hair was slicked back, by the way if you looked close enough, you’d see specks of blood under his nails or on the rings. He wore rings, not to accessorise, but to inflict more pain to those who crossed his path. No one gets away scot free when Big Mack is involved. Oliver had made friends with this man in shiny clothing. He wasn’t aware of the rumblings of the neighbourhood. Oliver didn’t know the shine was just paint caked on to cover up all the tarnish. When Big Mack saw that Oliver had a smidge of a gambling problem, like a good friend, he offered to spot Oliver when he was dry. Oliver couldn't accept this deal quicker. He was thrilled. Oliver enjoyed his gambling away at the expense of Big Mack. Once he reached $2,000 he stopped to ask Big Mack if this was alright. Big Mack said “Go on, Have at it. However long you’d like, my friend” Oliver was unaware that his new friend’s kindness has a stipulation written deep in the underbelly of this seedy behemoth of a man’s friendship; Money must be repaid in full plus interest. If Oliver hadn’t been trapped in the addiction of gambling, he wouldn’t have borrowed anything from Big Mack. Oliver was distraught, to say the least, when Big Mack demanded that Oliver repay him and with interest. Oliver was so frenzied he called Big Mack a liar, a thief, a right bastard. Big Mack doesn’t take too kindly to insults. He felt the need to teach Oliver what his silver rings were for. Oliver left with a cut on his cheek, so bad, it probably needed stitches. Oliver couldn’t afford to go to the hospital both literally and figuratively. Other than the crushed cheek, black eye, and swollen, cracked lips, Big Mack left him with a nice warning. “Tell anyone, you die. Ask for help, you die. Do anything other than get me my money, I’ll make you pay in other ways. You have until Monday to pay me in full. Two days, Oliver, or I am coming.” Here Oliver stands, in his shared room, alone. His face throbbing, his eye swollen shut with crust and dried blood. How can Oliver give Big Mack his money back? He paces around the room trying to find a solution, any solution. Maybe if he gives Big Mack some of the money, Big Mack will back off and give him more time until Monday to return the money in full. As he is pacing, Oliver ends up on his roommate’s side of the room. Barney is a weird guy. Likes to find odd jobs to pay the bills. He has a degree, yet likes to pick up random part time jobs or participate in medical trials. On Barney’s side table, Oliver sees something. Written in bold lettering, “Participants wanted! $500 bonus if you refer a friend!” Oliver grabbed the flyer. He Saw this was a flyer from a pharmaceutical company, Caltine Corp. Oliver though maybe, just maybe this would be his saving grace. He grabbed his laptop and Googled Caltine Corp. Most of their studies seemed to be on depressive medications. Near the end of the page, he sees a link. The link leads to a sperm bank. He calls the number. “Hello! This is Cataline Cryobank! This is Justine speaking, How can I help you?”

“Um Hi, My name’s Oliver. I was just wondering about what participants you were looking for and what they are needed for.”

“Well Oliver, we are looking for males in the age range of twenty-one to thirty-five. We want males who are in good health, with no past of current health concerns or drug use. We are also looking for males with little to no future health concerns. If you fit into these categories, we will offer 700$ for every litre donated. We would also like to give you a $500 bonus for referring a friend.”

“I would like to sign up.”

“Well then Oliver, if you could just come down and we can perform a health screening and then get you all set.”

“Ok.”

Oliver has found a way to get Bick Mack some of his money back. Oliver is going to ask Barney to go and say that Oliver referred him, so Oliver will get the referral bonus. Oliver leaves to go to the cryobank. People gave him curious glances while he was getting the health screening done. It isn’t everyday that a man with a busted face goes to donate sperm. Justine tells him to fill out a ton of paperwork. After about an hour, Oliver gives Justine the finished paperwork. Justine leads him to a room and tells him the rules and what to expect. Oliver deposits his donation. He has the opportunity to come everyday for a deposit, but no more than twice per day. Oliver goes home and relaxes slightly. He might be able to convince Big Mack to be lenient and give him more time if Oliver gives him the $1,300 he can make at Cataline. He goes twice more on both Saturday and Sunday. BigMack didn’t say when he would come for the money, but Oliver went once more early Monday. With a check in his hand, he returned home. Oliver hopes Big Mack actually thinks of him as a friend.

“And that is how I came to have donated to a sperm bank.”

“So that is how you became my biological father? You were a degenerate gambler who made friends with bad people, and paid it off by selling your sperm.”

“People will do a lot when they’re in need, Amelia. You asked for the reason I donated, and now I have told you. You were in a family with loving and kind parents that were just unlucky in their reproductive years.” Oliver never regrets donating sperm. Knowing that that led to a lovely couple living their best years as a full family with an amazing daughter, made him ecstatic. Oliver isn't sure how she found out about him, she is 26 now, her parents both passed a couple years apart a few years ago. He doesn’t know if Amelia’s parents told her about her conception being due to a sperm donor, but she found him. She asked for his story, and now she knew part. Oliver decided he needed some water after telling that long story. Reliving the past made him feel utterly exhausted. He grabbed his cane and started to stand. "Would you like a refill?”

“No, thank you. Is that a hereditary illness or something I should know about?” She directs her gaze to my twisted leg.

“No, my dear. This is the result of my donation. I paid Big Mack enough that he didn’t kill me, I just wished I was dead. In a way, you’re the reason I am still here today.” ‘Big Mack didn’t like not being paid in full right away. He decided to beat me and almost kill me, but since I gave him some money, with the promise of more, he kept me alive. I paid him off pretty quickly. Maybe I sired more children?’ Oliver was unable to go to the hospital for his injuries. Once he was able to, the bones had set, it was too late to fix it. He has learned how to function without proper use of his leg and no eyesight. He hasn’t gambled since.

I am studying General Ed at Gavilan. I am 19 years old and spend my days either playing video games with friends or spending all my money on shoes. I like like to keep my writing straightforward with a random twist that’ll keep people in their feet.