Pest Takes a Chance
… and Other Humorous Stories from the Paddy Pest Chronicles
by
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The Casino de Monte Carlo is everything that you would want it to be. The ornate Belle Époque facade promises much and delivers in spades. They also have hearts, diamonds and clubs in most rooms. I do like a game of chance and such a place is always a magnetic attraction, when I roll into town. I can vividly remember the first time I came to Monaco. I hooked up with a lady called Grace. She was a real charmer. Chemin de Fer was her specialty and she arranged my entry into the Salon Privé, where this card game is played for high stakes. The first few times I won and she thought that I was the bee’s knees. Yes, she was married but had some kind of loose arrangement with her husband. He must have been a real prince. Grace Mourakakis wasn’t totally honest about her connubial situation. Her husband was a wealthy mobster from Athens and the arrangement was all in his favor. He ran a string of good-time floozies but was extremely jealous if Grace ever found solace in the arms of somebody else. So, I got banged up a bit. Still, it’s nice to have these fond memories.
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About the Book
Gerry Burke writes short stories and commentary on subjects relating to politics, entertainment, sport, and travel. In this collection of humorous adult tales, Paddy Pest and the author’s other notorious characters really come to life. Paddy Pest: As a crime fighter, the indefatigable Paddy Pest bumbles around, but he gets things done. His adventures and misadventures require him to confront his own demons, dames, debt-collectors and villains of every description. In his spare time, Paddy likes to relax at the casino, the track, or at his favorite gentlemen’s club. The Achievers: Some people will do anything to get where they want to be. Here, politicians, film stars, sport stars, and intrepid entrepreneurs are each obsessively vying for their place in the sun. They have one thing in common: they’re all in the hot seat. Transition: Evolution is not just a philosophical phenomenon; a change of job, an ambitious determination, or an ounce of luck can all be motivation enough to change one’s circumstances—though not always for the better. Meet a gaggle of ordinary folks who do extraordinary things, mostly for their own benefit. Also available by Gerry Burke: From Beer to Paternity One man’s journey through life as we know it Down-Under Shorts Stories to read while they’re fumigating your pants
About the Author
Gerry Burke has now written three books that highlight the humorous aspects of politics, entertainment, sport and travel. His home base is Melbourne, Australia, where he has taken early retirement from his previous employment as a copywriter and Creative Director. The author has traveled extensively and boasts a wealth of life experience, which has been mostly usurped by his alter ego, Paddy Pest. For their sins, the Catholic Church and the Irish nation are frequent victims of his witty revelations. Gerry’s father came to Australia with a degree in blarney and promptly enrolled his only son in a Jesuit school. The revelations in this book have been a long time coming.