Monday, December 7, 2015

playing cards seriously


My Mom came from a very large family in Cape Breton. They were particularly enamored of two things. Liquor and playing card games. We learned early. As soon as we could hold a full hand, we were in the game. But Mom insisted that you gamble with your own money. And if you tried to reneg on a card, the hand came down swiftly. Also, if you started saying something inappropriate, there was a quick kick to your shin delivered under the table. One time, she went to deliver one of those to me. She struck out. And my ten year old cousin Wayne yelled out "Ow!". She then began to laugh hysterically, until she put her head on the table and peed herself a little.

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