Free Running Stupid: (Mystery Series) by James Kipling

James had explained thoroughly to Matthew, ‘ gambling is a fool’s game and I am no fool. ’
     
    James had won seven of the eight games played so far, putting James in an ironic position and leaving Matthew thankful that his host wasn’t a fool.
     
    “I’ll see you,” James said, nodding to Jester.
     
    Matthew smiled and spread his cards on the table, exposing all four Kings. James did the same, showing a full house of three aces and two Queens. He smiled at Matthew as he scooped the copper coins over to his side of the table.
     
    “People say I’m lucky,” Matthew said. “You’re just taking the piss.”
     
    James laughed boorishly. Over the last thirty minutes, Matthew had realised that no matter how simple, patriotic, hardworking, and middle class James was, he didn’t object to Matthew’s profanities.
     
    “I hope you don’t mind me asking,” Matthew began as James racked up the cards. “But … well.” he paused, the words on the tip of his tongue, unwilling to leave and form.
     
    “You’re wondering how a middle-class man, raised through public schools and universities, ends up as a simple farmer?” He spoke without lifting his head, his eyes on the shuffling cards in his hands.
     
    “Well … Yes.”
     
    “It’s hard for people to understand, and I understand that.” He looked up from the cards, right into Jester’s eyes. “Everybody wants what they haven’t got. For example,” he started. “Everybody wants to be rich when they grow up, right?”
     
    Matthew nodded.
     
    “Everybody wants all the luxuries that money can provide. But,” he tapped the deck of cards on the table to emphasise his words. “In striving to achieve wealth, they miss out on all the things that life has given them. Things that money can’t buy: love, family, happiness.”
     
    “That much I understand,” Jester said.
     
    “Right,” James explained, “now switch scenarios. I grew up rich. I didn’t have all the simple luxuries that everyone takes for granted. I wasn’t happy, I wasn’t loved, and my family was too interested in money to show me any attention. I grew up dreaming to be like other people; when the rest of the world dreamt of a high-life full of money, champagne truffles and nonstop parties, I dreamt of a simple family life.”
     
    “But dreams never turn out the way you expect them,” Matthew noted. “For the people wanting riches, they get their riches but they lose love, happiness and family. No one gets what they want. How did you know this path was the right path?”
     
    “I didn’t. I just took a chance.” James smiled and began to deal the cards. “Life is all about luck, young Matthew. I got lucky.” He finished dealing the cards and then faced Matthew. “What about you? How’s your life?” he said with a smile.
     
    “ Ha !” Matthew laughed exaggeratedly. “Put it this way,” he paused. “Have you ever seen The Twilight Zone ?”
     
    “I watched the occasional episode as a child.”
     
    “Well, that’s the way my life is going at the moment.”
     
    “Everyone has their problems, son,” James said sympathetically.
     
    “Some bigger than others.”
     
    James studied Matthew momentarily. “If there is something you wish to discuss, I have a perfectly good shoulder to cry on.”
     
    Matthew laughed softly. “It’s okay,” he said blandly. “I’m sure everything will turn out all right. Things have a way of sorting themselves out. What goes around comes around, right?”
     
    James merely shrugged his shoulders.
     
    Jester sighed, tapped his cards on the table, and then spread them in front of his face. He was in for another loss.
     
    ***
     
    They ate tea after a half an hour of playing cards. Matthew found himself sitting down to a feast of freshly baked, home-cooked delights. Due to the arrival of the unexpected guest, Mary had cooked up a pot of her ‘special’ soup, ladling litres of the vegetable broth into Matthew’s bowl. Every