They all began the exciting count of hard American cash in the San Diego hotel room. As expected, the twenties outnumbered all of the other bills. So Ida and Maya had their hands full.

When they all had finished, after two recounts, they had added up and grouped more than sixty-eight thousand dollars.

“Se-parate the first for-ty for the investors,” Lucina told Ivan.

Ida beat him to it, grouping twenty rubber-banded stacks of twenty-dollar bills. Each stack was two thousand dollars.

Ivan said, “Naw, don’t give them that. Give them the stacks of hundreds and fifties to make it easier for them to count.”

Lucina argued, “No, you want them to think about coun-ting. That way they know how much money they made with us.”

Ivan frowned and said, “These guys have all counted money like this before. They’re professional football players. Giving them twenty stacks of twenties will only make us look small-time.”

Ida and Maya looked at each other as if their argument was frivolous.

What the hell difference does it make? Ida mused. Money is money.

But Lucina insisted. She grabbed the stack of twenties and said, “Trust me on this, I-van. It’s much bet-ter to give them more to count. They are much more generous when coun-ting more than they are when coun-ting less.”

Ivan thought about that and froze for a minute. Maybe Perry and Zee-Dog would spend more with twenties, but Jeffrey would prefer his in a check if possible. Then again, Ivan could explain his own preferences to Jeffrey later. So as a team player, he agreed with Lucina.

Ivan nodded, understanding her game. “Okay, you’re right. Let’s just give them the twenties, then.”

“Thank you,” Lucina responded. Then she looked at her thin Movado watch. “It’s getting close to two o’clock. Let’s go say our good-byes now.”

AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, everyone was paid well, San Diego had enjoyed a hell of a football party, Lucina’s girls were out entertaining more of the players, and Ivan was headed back home in his car carrying a purse of more than twelve thousand dollars, while Ida followed him in her car.

Ivan’s brother Derrick was nowhere to be found and would not answer his cell phone. But that was all right with Ivan. Knowing D., he would tell him all about his adventurous night in the morning. Or more likely during that next afternoon.

Ivan was all smiles, driving in silence as he made his way back home. He had heard enough loud music to last him for the rest of the weekend.

“This has been a good damn night,” he told himself. “Now we have to make enough to throw parties without so much overhead.” He grumbled, “She should have negotiated thirty thousand back instead of forty,” in reference to the football players’ payout.

But we’ll work on that for next time, he thought.