Once a year krabs and I gamble a good chunk of money over cards and I'll have to admit; he's always won. But today would be different. Today i knew I would win. I was confident. I could probably bet my last eye on this.

I walked across the street to his establishment to meet him. The krusty krab looked mischievous from here with lights down and "open twenty four hours" sign still lit up with with nostalgic neon colors and half broken so there was a flicker that crawled up your nerves.

The krusty krab harnessed the feeling of envy that left me bloodthirsty and ready to trade my life. I paced across the black rocky street slightly damp from the gentle drip of a storm ready with its second wind. Most years we would've bet about five thousand dollars or so on the table but this year we bet our jobs, friends, and life earnings... and i felt confident!

I swung open the doors and in a heartbeat heard them bash on the log sides and crash against themselves that left a sinister boom echoing across a the silent (almost sacred) krusty krab. I slithered my way over to the barrel seat across from krabs. He glared at me and clenched his teeth, his bushy eyebrows crowded each other in the space of the wrinkled lines as I grabbed my cards.

"Ooh I can feel the heat rising already, Krabs!" I boasted and let a light chuckle come through afterwards.

"Nice to see you, plankton!" Krabs said with a harsh break in his raspy voice.

And just like that, we were of to a good game of cards. I dealt the cards out so they laid in a row in front of us. We slid the cards to our face like a fan so no smirk, distress or grin was to be seen. Our eyes smoothly slid over to scan our cards.

He placed a card and I placed one, he placed a card and I placed one and on and on. We made small talk throughout the game but not for long because we both were stressed. We had our heads in the game. Our hands shook with every careful move. Our breath speed up with every passed turn. This game went on till four in the morning. We both walked home afterwards with a fast pace.

One of us lost, one of us walked home with a chuckle and as he walked in the front door that soon grew to be a revolting laugh. the other walked home and broke to tears as he took of his jacket and collapsed in bed. in the morning we met again with probably more hate than we both had before. One of us was smiling

"She's all Yours" Mr. krabs said weakly and distantly you could tell he was in a whole new world. I did it, I won! I let out a casual friendly chuckle as if I tried to play innocent.

"It was an honor, Mr. krabs and I would gladly do it again!" I spoke up with pride. I couldn't believe it! Well, I could. I guess I'm just that good... at cheating. Yeah I'm unfair and sneaky but do I care? No! It'll all be worth it!

"Mr. K? Wh why are you talking to plaintrol?" Spongebob approached us ready for work, but he was confused. He must've seen me holding the key.

"Well kiddo, this is your lucky day! I won the bet to the key of this establishment. Don't worry, your job will stay the same. Let's just say your boss won't." I said

He looked at Mr. Krabs horrified.

"What did you do?!" Spongebob cried

"Spongebob, my boy! Good to see you lad" he said with a weak smile "I um, heh..."

"I, I understand Krabs," eh said with a sniffle. this seemed like such a small event but neither Krabs or Spongebob took it that way. They were acting like the world was going to end.

"Well I guess this is it, Goodbye Spongebob" Mr. krabs said quietly.

"No! Don't go!" Spongebob broke to tears and ran to hug him. Krabs also broke to tears.

"Alright, alright! Get a grip Krabs!" I separated the two, they were getting quite annoying. Mr. Krabs walked away slowly and I opened the doors to the krusty krab. gently pushing open the glass doors I had entered just the night before. The dust blew towards me as if to welcome me. Spongebob was holding his hat with both of his hands squeezing it in fear.

"Oh don't worry Spongebob, I'm not as bad as they say I am." I said raising my shoulders.

"Oh sure Plaintrol! You won't get away with this!" he was uptight.

"The damage was said and done buddy!" I replied raising my voice to his "You'll adjust eventually." I walked towards the office. Spongebob hung his head low still holding his hat, but just in one hand and slowly swung open the metal door to the kitchen next to the cash register.

A bit of me felt bad. But what should I have done? As I opened the door on the other side of the cash register. I took a second to observe the room. The first thing I saw in front of me was a treasure chest for a table and a red chair behind it that resembled royalty, Gross. There were two, less comfortable chairs carved out of a barrel and lined with a red cushion that made you feel as if you were in some place respectable. They disagreed with the flags loosely lining the walls.

And finally the vault next to his chair in the wall. Anything in there was mine! I was pretty happy. I could get used to this!