Even three floors above the casino floor, Steven could still smell, still feel even, the smoke from hundreds of cigars, puffing their scent below. The musky odor seemed to cling to the walls and the carpet, to his clothes even. Hopefully, the present his dad had got him was a new suit that he could change into.
It was the night of Steven’s 18th birthday. Living on the outskirts of Las Vegas, his father decided to take him to the Strip, a place he had only barely experienced before now, unlike his father who seemed to go every weekend. He couldn’t legally gamble, or drink for that matter, but his dad assured him that they would “let it slide”. After all, no one was too careful about ID’s, and his father’s friend owned the casino. A night out on the town with the guys, however, quickly went south. Steven blew through several hundred dollars at blackjack, he nearly choked to death on one cigar puff, and the shot of whiskey he had sent him to the restroom almost immediately. After getting himself cleaned up, his dad handed him the key to their hotel room and told him to go get his “surprise gift”. He had no clue what it might be, and he half believed his father just sent up here due to embarrassment. Truth be told, even if the surprise was gag gift, Steven was likely to stay up in the room for the rest of the night.