Doubling Down on the Breeze

Living room couches are fine for minor stakes, but real players take their luck outdoors. I squeezed out through the patio screen flap and hauled my lucky quarter, nickel, and blue poker chip up the porch post. Perched atop the weathered cedar rail, I noticed the wind kicking up dry maple leaves across the yard. Naturally, I laid the coins down in a neat row and turned the gusts into a high-stakes roulette. Whichever leaf tumbled past the second fence post first decided if I pushed the quarter forward. Three swirling reds crossed in a row—a clean sweep. If the breeze keeps paying out like this, our bankroll is going all the way to the strip.