Off The Cuff: A wry look at life

Cards and camaraderie. There were always packs of playing cards in my house. To be taken out on a rainy afternoon when going out into the garden to play was out of the question. Five bored children with but one single thought – how to while away time on such a dreary afternoon.

Ideas were discarded as fast as they were suggested. Depending on who was the leader of the pack for that day. Then someone would come up with the bright idea of playing a card game. Even this inviting debate as it was decided which game should be played. There was never any unanimity over this. Each one convinced that the game he or she had suggested the best of the several options offered.

A compromise would be reached after much haggling and perhaps one or two walking away in a huff. Which suited the three remaining in the room just fine. Now they could get down to playing 'Five, Three, Two' which required only three people to play. Situation under control.

Soon the laughter and good-natured bickering reached the ears of the two who had walked out. Hearing the sounds was like salt on their wounds. Simmering with discontent, they returned to the room to watch the others laughing and arguing, trying to make the disdainful expression on their faces look convincing enough.

When they realised that the three were so completely engrossed in their game that they hadn't even noticed their re-entering the room, they pulled out books and pretended to be absorbed in the contents. Every now and then frowning and asking the card players to keep the noise down as they were trying to read. A perfect illustration of sour grapes.

Sometimes our parents joined in. Perhaps because the sounds of their card playing children had drifted to their room where they fought an unequal battle against the noise. Trying their best to have an afternoon nap. Frustrated by their failure to do so, they might have decided that 'if you can't beat them, join them'.

The children welcomed the parents with glee. That was when the two others struck. Quickly joined in as unobtrusively as possible. Hoping against hope that the three others wouldn't notice their change of heart. Or worse, comment on it.

Obviously the game had to change. The patriarch voted for rummy. So rummy it was. For the youngest of the five, holding 13 cards in one hand a Herculean task. So she divided them into two lots - six and seven. One of these lots laid face down while she valiantly played with the other.

Mocking laughter and ribbing from the siblings. While she went red in the face. First with embarrassment which quickly turned into anger when there was no letting up in the teasing. Father or one sympathetic sister would then come to the rescue of this damsel in distress. Arrange the cards for her so that she could hold them in one hand. Never mind if now they were packed so close together that she couldn't make out what they were!

Of course, there was the usual attempt at cheating as one of the brothers suddenly found the need to bend too close to you, ostensibly to pick up a bit of non-existent fluff. But you could see through this charade as you saw his sidelong glance at your cards. There was the inevitable appeal to the higher court. Some name calling. The accused trying to look like he was the epitome of innocence. To no avail. Because a little while back, he had actually had the nerve to try the same trick with the patriarch. Judgement was delivered. One more trick like that and that would be the end of the game.

And thus was a dreary afternoon transformed into fun and laughter.