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Writers Corner |
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Under The "B" Fifteen
Everyday I learn that one's education is never finished. In the past week or so I learned something new about the workings of a car and I learned how bananas are "gassed" to begin the ripening process. Now, maybe everyone else knew this stuff, but I did not. My lengthiest lesson this week was about Bingo.
One of the few Bingo games I attended was in elementary school, where we had Bingo nearly every Friday. Most of us tore up pieces of paper to cover our numbers, and they were not even, square pieces - just jagged scraps. Once, I called out "BINGO", but it was just that my cover was too large and it covered two numbers, instead of one. I was punished for delaying the game, and, while I was crying, I accidentally blew all the covers off someone's card. With the two of us bawling, they had to call it off. The better off students covered theirs with coppers.
Now, the game of Bingo has come a long way, baby. There's regular, radio, TV, drive- in, benefit, parish, mammoth, lucky 7 and animal bingo - to name a few. And, the individual games are so creatively named. Once I got to "three bingos any way", I had to give up - and that was with only two cards. Now there's one straight with free, one straight without free, two any way, three any way, one down-one across, one straight and the four corners, six-pack, layer cake, postage stamp, picture frame, share the wealth, and the stand-up game. In this game if you have a number that's called, you sit and the last one standing wins. My question is, can you go home after you have to sit or must you stay until someone wins?
There are expressions, too, that are specifically related to Bingo - generalizations I call them... "that same crowd wins every time...bad she needs it on the hook for 15 calls I was, needed 47 and he called 48 first time here, luh, and won the jackpot- not fair- he'll have to slow down calling, I got more than one card..."
The cards are color coded to correspond to specific games, so the color of the card is more important than the card itself. It is my firm belief that anyone who can play more than three cards keep the games straight, keep the colors straight and not have an "on the hook" anxiety attack should get a prize anyway. I know I just could not do it.
I remember once sitting next to my sister at her house while she played TV Bingo, and I, in the deathly silence reflected on modern technology. Suddenly, I decided I'd call home to check on my children. Without even taking her eyes off the TV she firmly slapped the receiver back in its cradle and calmly spit out: "I am on the hook - DON'T JAM THE LINES !" I got up, and, when I figured I was a safe distance away, I screamed: "I hope you never win again!"
Oh, well, Bingo lovers, all in jest, and I hope lady luck shines on every one of you.
Catherine Kelly
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