It was Christmas, and my Uncle Rick had graciously invited the whole family for a “friendly” game of poker. But just as everyone was taking their seats, he announced, “We’re not playing for pennies. If we’re gonna play, we play for real.”

The relatives chuckled nervously. “How real are we talking, Rick?”

He unzipped a duffel bag and slammed ten stacks of cash onto the poker table. “Ten thousand a hand. If you don’t have the bankroll, don’t sit at the table.”

An awkward silence fell over the room. One by one, they shook their heads, admitting they couldn’t afford stakes that high. They flattered him instead, saying he was a real big shot, a high roller even during a family game.

Rick puffed out his chest, soaking in the praise. He launched into a lecture about how they all needed to be more ambitious, or they’d be poor their whole lives, too broke to even play a real man’s game.

That’s when I quietly walked to the table. “Uncle Rick,” I said. “I’ll play with you.”

1

“You?”

Everyone stared. Rick looked stunned for a second, then broke into a condescending smirk. “Leo, my boy, don’t you make a few grand a month? What is this, a joke?”

I smiled faintly. “I got a decent Christmas bonus this year. Enough to keep you company for a few hands.”

We all knew what this was about. Rick wasn’t playing poker; he was playing ‘look how rich I am.’

I’d been putting up with him for days.

The day I got back for the holidays, I’d brought my dad a bottle of vintage Macallan. When Rick saw it, he’d scoffed, “Your dad’s a simple farmer. Does a man like him even have the palate to appreciate something like that?”

If my dad hadn’t physically held me back, I would have exploded right then and there.

But if Rick was going to use a simple game to trample on the dignity of his family, then I saw no reason to treat him like family anymore.

“Well, well, look at you, doing alright for yourself,” Rick sneered, his disdain palpable. “A bonus that big is almost what I make in a week. Just don’t come crying to me when it’s all gone.”

I looked at him, my stomach turning with disgust. It was the same thing every year. The holidays would start off happy, but then Rick, who owned some small-time logistics company, would start lording his success over everyone, lecturing anyone who would listen. Bragging to outsiders was one thing, but what kind of person needs to feel superior to their own family?

Today, I was done indulging him.

“Don’t worry, I can afford to lose,” I said, my voice cold as I hit him with a challenge. “I’m more worried you won’t pay up when you lose.”

“Heh.” Rick’s laugh was sharp. “A hundred grand is nothing to me. You think I’m like you, scraping by on one bonus a year? Your dad told me you’re saving for a down payment to get married. It’d be a real shame if your fiancée left you when you’re broke. Don’t blame me when it happens.”

His words hung in the air, and even the other relatives flinched. What kind of uncle says that to his own nephew?

I was done with the verbal sparring. “So,” I said to the room, “is anyone else going to join us?”

You need more than two for a game. But seeing the tension between Rick and me, no one wanted to get caught in the crossfire. They all shook their heads, mumbling about the high stakes.

Rick rolled his eyes. “Bunch of cowards. Can’t even handle a ten-thousand-dollar hand. How do you expect to ever get anywhere in life?”

The relatives bristled, but no one dared to say a word.

I took it all in, then narrowed my eyes at Rick.

“If poker’s a no-go, how about something a little more… thrilling?”

Rick’s eyelids drooped with arrogance. “Name your game. Texas Hold’em, Blackjack, Craps, Dice. I’ll play you in anything.”

That was exactly what I wanted to hear.

“Let’s do dice, then,” I said smoothly. “Simple high roll. Whoever’s higher, wins. Fast and exciting.”

A triumphant grin spread across Rick’s face. “Fine by me. Your funeral, kid. Don’t regret it.”

My other relatives shot me looks of pure shock. They all knew Rick had spent years hustling in VIP lounges and high-stakes games. He had a legendary dice roll, a skill honed over countless nights that even the most seasoned croupiers couldn’t beat.

Playing dice against him was like a lamb walking into a wolf’s den.

Of course, I knew dice was his specialty.

Still, I asked for two sets of dice cups, each with five dice inside—his preferred setup.

“Hold on,” Rick said, stopping me just as I was about to start.

I raised an eyebrow. “What now?”

“Where’s your money? Mine’s on the table.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes.

I told him I didn’t carry cash and showed him my digital wallet on my phone. In this day and age, who carries tens of thousands in cash unless they’re deliberately trying to show off?

“Fifty thousand, huh? Not bad for a bonus these days,” Rick said, his eyes glinting with contempt after seeing the balance. “That’ll cover my pocket money for a couple of weeks.”

I just smiled coldly, knowing he’d never miss a chance to flaunt.

“Roll ‘em, lock ‘em, and show ‘em!”

Rick snatched his cup and shook it with a flourish, the dice rattling for a full thirty seconds before he slammed it down on the table.

I gave my cup a couple of casual shakes and set it down.

All eyes were on us.

Rick lifted his cup with a confident flourish. Three sixes, two fives. A powerful hand.

I lifted mine at the same time.

One, two, three, four, five. A straight.

I lost.

“Haha! The kid’s out of his depth,” Rick crowed, slapping the table.

I said nothing, just silently transferred ten thousand dollars to him.

“Rick, come on, the boy was just talking,” my dad pleaded, his face tight with worry. He looked at my uncle with begging eyes. “Let’s just call it one game.”

Rick’s face darkened. “Don’t bother me, old man,” he snapped, not even bothering to call my dad his brother. “Your son’s not a dirt farmer like you. He’s seen the world, worked in the city. Ten grand is nothing. He’s still got forty left. Stay out of it.”

He always treated my father this way, with zero respect. He’d completely forgotten that he only had what he had because my dad had given up his own chance at an education for him.

“It’s okay, Dad,” I said, giving him a reassuring look. “I can afford to lose fifty thousand. I’ll earn it back next year.”

My dad sighed. He knew my stubborn streak and didn’t want to embarrass me in front of everyone.

“Again,” I said, picking up the dice cup.

I lost the second round.

And the third. And the fourth. And the fifth.

In a matter of minutes, the fifty thousand dollars in my account was gone.

“Haha! What a good nephew, giving your old uncle a fifty-thousand-dollar gift,” Rick chortled, raking in the last of my money. “Don’t worry, I’ll take you out to a real high-class club sometime, show you how the world works.” He was about to get up and leave.

“Wait,” I said.

He stopped. “What, you want more?”

I nodded.

Rick raised an eyebrow. “With what? This might be for fun, but we don’t play on credit.”

I smiled. “I don’t need credit. I’ve got another three hundred thousand on my card.”

“You idiot!” my father suddenly shouted, slapping his thigh in panic before I could even act. “That’s your down payment for the house! You can’t touch that!”

“What are you yelling about?” Rick sneered, pointing a finger at my dad. “See, that’s your problem, old man. No vision. Your son wants to play, and I’m gonna play with him!”

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” My dad turned on me, his voice trembling. “Your mother and I worked our whole lives to save that money for you! If you lose it all, what are you going to do?”

I ignored him. Right in front of Rick, I opened my banking app and transferred the entire three hundred thousand into my digital wallet.

Rick’s eyes narrowed into slits, a greedy smile spreading across his face. “Leo, my boy, ten grand a hand is a little slow. Why don’t we raise the stakes?”

I kept my voice flat. “How high?”

Rick held up two fingers. “One hundred thousand a roll. Best of three.”

I knew what he was thinking. Three quick rolls and my entire future would be in his pocket.

But this was exactly what I was waiting for.

“Done,” I said.

A collective gasp went through the room. “One hundred thousand a roll? You two are crazy! We’re family, you don’t need to do this!” the relatives pleaded.

My dad was frantic. He lunged forward and slapped me on the back of the head. “You damn fool! Are you insane? Are you going to gamble away our entire family’s savings? Your uncle does this every day! He’s a goddamn hustler, and you’re just a kid! What are you trying to prove?”

I knew he was just trying to give me an out, a chance to back down and apologize.

After all, three hundred thousand might be nothing to Rick.

But to us, it was everything.

I couldn’t afford to lose.

“Are you going to be a nuisance all night?” Rick shot my dad an annoyed look. He was praising me on the surface, but I knew he was just afraid I’d back out. “Leo’s not like you! It’s only three hundred grand. He’s young, he can make more!”

Just then, my Aunt Carol came over, frowning at my dad. “Honestly, it’s Christmas. Let the boy have some fun. You’re ruining the mood.”

“Don’t worry about my dad, Uncle,” I said, a flicker of ice in my eyes. “Let’s just play.”

Rick grinned and started shaking his cup.

I matched him, then we both set our cups down.

“Shame. Almost had five of a kind,” Rick said with a smug sigh, revealing his dice. Four sixes and a five.

An incredible roll, but he acted as if it was a disappointment.

The room fell silent. All eyes turned to me.

This was for a hundred thousand dollars.

One more loss, and I’d be in a hole I couldn’t climb out of.

I didn’t hesitate. I lifted my cup.

The next second, as everyone saw the numbers on my dice, their pupils contracted, their faces a mask of pure disbelief.