Blackjack?"

Ah shit. I always had a love-hate relationship with blackjack, or really any card game for that matter. I always got super into them, and despite being pretty uncompetitive in nearly other facet of life, it was nearly impossible for me to accept defeat in card games. I always surprised my friends when I made our penny-bet games feel like a high-stakes match in the World Series of Poker.

Oh well, this could be interesting, and I could use a little "interesting" in my life.

"Yeah sure, let's do it." I agree

"Awesome!" Ashley squeals. She seems ecstatic that I agreed to play blackjack with her.

Ashley quickly exits my room and returns a minute later with a deck of cards. I openup my drawer to retrieve my roll of pennies, my preferred way of playing.

Soon we are playing blackjack, chatting and laughing for an hour or so. I try not to get too competitive, but as the game went on I gradually started losing more and more pennies. Despite my competitive spirit, I'm actually not that good at blackjack. I never know when i should hit or stay, and often end up busting.

The game continues on until Ashley reveals her perfect hand, another stupid blackjack. I groan and pay up my pennies, annoyed at losing yet another hand.

"Oh would you look at that, looks like I won! Good game, Em" Ashley states triumphantly. At first I thought she was just talking about this hand, but when I look down I suddenly realize I have no more pennies. I lost. When Ashley started putting the cards back in the deck, it looked like the game was over.

Though it was just a penny game, I didn't want it to end just yet. I hated losing and couldn't let Ashley just walk away like that, but at the same time I was having a great time bonding with my sister and wanted to hang out just a little longer.

"Aw can't we keep playing? We practically just started" I plead to my sister.

"Em we've been playing for two hours!" Ashley laughs. "Besides, you don't have any 'money' left to play."

"Can't you just give me half and we start over?" I suggest

"Of course not, that's totally against the spirit of gambling." Ashley reminds me.

"Seriously? Come on Ashley there's gotta be some way to keep the game going!" I practically beg. I don't think it'll be any use, but it's worth a shot.

Ashley pondered for a few moments. I could tell she also wants to keep hanging out and playing, but her principles tell her she couldn't just give me back the money she won.

"Okay Em, I got something for ya." Ashley says with a devilish grin. "I'm willing to give you some pennies back, but only in exchange for...