"Hey, I think it's because of the chair," I told the husband.
"Why? What about it?"
"Well, last night your dad sat here and he won; tonight I'm sitting here and you see what's happening?"
I was on my first ever winning streak - my third in a row, the fourth win for the night. "First ever" as in all the trips I've ever made to this house. You see, JL's parents are very good at rami, better known as rummy to everyone else (I think!). I'm no good with cards - the last card game I played regularly was chor dai dee back in uni days when a few of us just refused to study. That too, I can hardly recall.
My three opponents are all experts. Our two senior citizens are naturally good at it since they play regularly with their equally-senior buddies. The husband is very good at it because his mathematical mind processes at lightning-speed. Me? I just teach my students how to use the scientific calculator. Counting fast, let alone in different combinations, up to only 52 can bring about a headache.
"Why? What about it?"
"Well, last night your dad sat here and he won; tonight I'm sitting here and you see what's happening?"
I was on my first ever winning streak - my third in a row, the fourth win for the night. "First ever" as in all the trips I've ever made to this house. You see, JL's parents are very good at rami, better known as rummy to everyone else (I think!). I'm no good with cards - the last card game I played regularly was chor dai dee back in uni days when a few of us just refused to study. That too, I can hardly recall.
My three opponents are all experts. Our two senior citizens are naturally good at it since they play regularly with their equally-senior buddies. The husband is very good at it because his mathematical mind processes at lightning-speed. Me? I just teach my students how to use the scientific calculator. Counting fast, let alone in different combinations, up to only 52 can bring about a headache.
But this trip, I have grown to love the game. In fact, we spent many weeknights playing it, just the four of us.
The routine is such that we would have dinner, the MIL washes the dishes while I help the FIL wipe them dry. JL would sweep the kitchen floor and terrace outside.
Once everything is done comme il faut, someone would lay out the green felt on the kitchen table and distribute the cards. Ten rounds, no less.
The routine is such that we would have dinner, the MIL washes the dishes while I help the FIL wipe them dry. JL would sweep the kitchen floor and terrace outside.
Once everything is done comme il faut, someone would lay out the green felt on the kitchen table and distribute the cards. Ten rounds, no less.
Apart from being able to count faster, I've also learned some gros mots, "coarse words" literally. It is especially funny to hear it from the MIL since she changes these words around: like turning putain (shit) into punaise (a thumbtack). Much like how we'd say "chicken pie" instead of you-know-what in Hokkien.
It is always JL's mother who keeps the scores. For the uninitiated, rami is all about clearing one's cards fast. The points are calculated based on one's remaining cards when there is a winner. Hence the winner gets zero. And if you're still holding on to your 12 cards, you get a hundred points, which is most probably greater than the sum of all your cards.
So who's the consistent winner? The FIL. Some nights, the MIL wins too, but I think she has become less competitive over the years.
So who's the consistent winner? The FIL. Some nights, the MIL wins too, but I think she has become less competitive over the years.
This one shows JL's best evening. Look at his scores on the first column: even when he loses, he loses very little.
It's funny now that I see the tallying of final score by the MIL. I had so many hundred points that she didn't even have to count! Biggest loser for sure!
Honestly, I don't mind losing at all. Just as long as there's chocolate to munch while we play, or verveine to drink on nights when it's chilly outside.
It's funny now that I see the tallying of final score by the MIL. I had so many hundred points that she didn't even have to count! Biggest loser for sure!
Honestly, I don't mind losing at all. Just as long as there's chocolate to munch while we play, or verveine to drink on nights when it's chilly outside.
