The blackjack caught Big Al in the kidneys, real hard. He went down on to his hands and knees with an agonizing grunt. I moved in behind the big man and kicked him squarely between the legs, like I was punting on 4th down. Big Al screamed like a little girl and collapsed on to his puffy face. I was enjoying this. Maybe too much. It was time to end it.

    I bent down to one of Al’s hairy ears and said, “If you ever come at me again, I’ll kill you, you whimpering pollock! Tell Chang, he better watch his noodle.” Then I picked up Al’s head and bashed it on that bright pink linoleum floor. 

    That was it. It was lights out for Big Al Kropelniski and I needed that cheeseburger.