Posts by Richard

Blowers and I drive to the lawyer’s elegant place. We play at a dinner table with placemats, as food and drinks are catered.  Right up front I cover the vision question by saying simply, “my eyes were damaged during the war and My roommate accidentally stepped on and smashed my glasses and, someone will need…

I’m back aboard the boat, a lawyer I know as Tony T pulls me aside and says looking this way and that, “I’m an Attorney, and we are all in the same business – cheating people! I’ve seen your show many times and know about your skills. Your moves are invisible. I would like you…

I’ve bet the proprietor double or nothing for the carpet, and now it is time to slam shut the trap.  The store owner pauses for a moment, and then happily agrees. “Okay, I’ll take that bet!” he says handing over a large stack of his business hand-outs. “Now let me see you cut off nineteen…

“At my table is Dai Vernon’s traveling friend Bill Bowers. Bill, I heard about Herb Zarrow’s party in New York, can you please elaborate on the highlights?” “Sure, Jon, Herb invited a large group of magicians to have dinner at a New York hotel dining room. Sitting next to Dai Vernon was his best friend…

Jim describes a rich brown carpet that feels great. I tell the proprietor, “I’ll take this one.” We head back to Cole’s office to finalize the sale. The proprietor remembers what I stated, he holds up a stack of his business cards and says unlikely believing the truthfulness of my bold assertion, “Are you claiming…

With my newly acquired wealth, I buy a hilltop home with a view, surrounded with blooming fruit trees and hire Jim Blowers as my personal driver.  I decide to spice up my place with new carpet. As soon as Blowers and I walk in the store, the owner recognizes me and says thrilled, “You’re Richard…

My senses were correct. I was being stalked, and I instantly recognize Know-It-All’s voice. As soon as he clamps his arms around me in his clumsy bear hug, I think, “Big mistake!” I instantly drop into a deep Horse Stance to lower my center of gravity, while spreading out my elbows breaking the stupid guy’s…

After my profitable night with Know-It-All, I work my way to my pickup spot, where I meet up with Blowers. Whenever I stand alone late at night, my senses are always on overdrive, developed from my martial arts training. Murphy calls it, ‘Situational Awareness.’ As I wait, a creeping tentacle of uneasiness starts to grip…

The young waitress who served Mr. Know-It-All approaches me on my way out and says thrilled, “That jerk wanted to know your real identity.”  She says with a grin, “I told him you are one of the best card sharks in the country and he was stupid to have challenged you. I guess that’s why…

Mr. Know-It-All grabs the deck and shuffles it fourteen times before handing it back to me. More cash is piled on the table. With an unsettling aura of complete relaxation, I begin to slowly deal cards. I say contemptibly, “Watch very closely! Are you watching?” Know-It-All only grunts, restraining himself from edging his face inches…

After winning a nice pile of large bills, I decide Mr. Know-It-All has hopefully learned his lesson. I stand up from his table and say thumbing through the cash, “Thanks for the entertainment.”  I flash the wad of winnings to the manager. He says, “That was great! That jerk was rude to everyone in the…

Know-It-All now has to accept the challenge. This initial confrontation leads to a dozen more games, and I win every hand, one after the other, faster than Know-It-All can figure out what is happening. I also think I am pulling the wool over his eyes, never picking up my vision deficiency as I only pretend…