Book1:TeDream-Maker

nabandonedbabyshesaworeetonedayandenerousimpulse,tookherhomeandraisedher．Thougholdenoughtobehergrandmother,sheinsistedonbeingcalledbyhernameonly,soYokogrewupcallingher，Amalia．Thetwomadetheirlivingbygambling,theonlywayoflifetheyknew．Retly，theyweredownontheirluck.ThatwasthemainreasonwhyYokothoughthooker．ShewaogetholdofsomemooprovideAmaliawithgamblingfundstotryherluckagainatthetables．Whentheywerelucky，theylivedverywellindeed．Butwhatcameeasy，wenteasy．Theylivedextravagantlyandsplurgedasiftherewasnotomorrow．Eveheirluckwasbad，itwasn’thardtogetbyinthegamblinghousewheretheywere"oldtimers"andknewmostoftheregurers．Yokowouldrunerrandsforthem,fetakephonecalls,pickuportakehomeersinherjalopy．Thoseontheirwinningstreakswouldmagnanimouslygiveherfattipsfromtheirwinnings．Theywerekindredspiritswhohadknownthemisfortuneoflossesthemselves．Butretly，Amalia’sluckhadbeenverybad，andasshehurriedalong，Yokohopedtherewouldbeaturnforthebetterthatday．

    Asshegotnearherdestination，shesawRichardChaolattheentranjoyingthecloudofacigarette,asmugsmileonhisface．

    "Hi,Richard!Youseemtobeinagoodmood．Doioday?"

    "Notbad.”hereplied,pattingthebulgingpocketsofhisjacket.

    "Theownerofaeserestaurantwasgettingnervousasthestakesgothigherandhigherandbeggedmetositandgambleinhispce．Idid．Andyouknowwhat?Iwohreehuhousanddolrsforhim!"

    "muchdidhegiveyou?"

    "35,000.”

    8

    "That’sgreat,Richard!gratutions!You’llbesetforawhile.”

    "Notreally．IhavetopaymyfriendJamaz’shospitalbillsaellyou,theyareskyhigh!"Ri