The turns traveled around the tables over and over as the women chatted and ate, sometimes forgetting to count the dice, laughing as they tried to remember.
“Twenty one,” said Maureen, as Angie rang the bell calling an end to that round. “Better luck next time,” she said to Angie and Paulette as they rose to move to the next table over.
“I’ll switch,” said Wallis, getting up and sitting down at Maureen’s right elbow.
Ginger sat down across from Wallis becoming her new partner for the next round. Yvette slid into the chair across from Maureen. “We all ready?” said Maureen, not bothering to look before she rang the bell and everyone started rolling for two’s.
“I’ll go,” said Maureen, grabbing at the dice.
“You really want the prize tonight, don’t you Maureen?” said Ginger. Maureen stuck her tongue out and hissed, “Yes,” as two two’s turned up. Yvette unwrapped a miniature Hershey bar and slid it into her mouth.
“How’s it going with Lance?” asked Maureen. Lance was Yvette’s six year old son.
“I can’t complain,” said Yvette, “but I’m not sure what to do. His teacher says he’s way too far ahead of everyone else in the class and wants to jump him to second grade. But it’s already March. He’d be starting in the middle of everything and wouldn’t know a soul.”
“Did she just mention it?” said Wallis.
“No, and good point,” said Yvette, laughing. “She mentioned it last December before the new semester started, but I suppose I don’t want to do it so I dragged my feet. I’m going to keep up my passive resistance till summer, I think. Sure, he’s making her come up with lesson plans just for him, but he’s small for his age and she should do the heavy lifting here, not Lance.”
“How’s Fred doing?” asked Yvette, turning to Maureen.
“Worried about the economy, which is a good thing. He seems to need something to worry about and when he can’t figure out what it might be he starts to look at me,” said Maureen, letting out a snort of laughter.
“What does your husband say about Lance?” asked Maureen.
“He’s so busy at work. He asked me what I was doing and when I said I wasn’t all that interested, he stopped asking. I’m all for waiting to see how this plays out.”
“Sounds reasonable to me,” said Wallis.
“Yeah, just say no,” said Ginger. “How’s Ned getting along? He’s running ahead of his teachers, isn’t he?”
“Yes, but the teachers don’t seem to be aware of it, which is how Ned likes it. Ned’s better at playing his own game and does just enough to get the A’s but not so much they’ll notice he’s not getting challenged.”
“That’s okay with you?” asked Maureen. “Oh, Bunko, Ginger, good for us.” Maureen made five notches on the notepad.
“Sure, it’s fine. Ned’s naturally curious and he’s not going to stop himself from learning and if he feels he needs to be under the radar then so be it. He’ll find his way.”
Wallis thought of Paul and some unseen force’s interest in him and she let go of a shudder.
“You cold?” asked Ginger. “You want to use my sweater?” she said, reaching around to peel the fuchsia cardigan off of the back of her chair.
“No, no, I’m fine. Just thinking about some of the cases I see.” Getting a little better at lying quickly, thought Wallis.
“Yeah, that must be hard not to take home,” said Maureen. “I don’t think I could do it. I’d be yelling at people all the time to straighten up and fly right.” The women chuckled.
“Twenty one!” said Ginger. Maureen vigorously rang the bell.
“Okay, who’s my next partner?” said Maureen, pushing herself up and moving over to the next table.
“Maybe you’ll win for having the least tonight, Maureen,” said Yvette.
“A prize is a prize,” said Maureen, pulling a chair out a little further at a nearby table.
“Did you hear about Blazney?” said Maureen to her new table partners. Wallis looked up, trying to catch what she was saying but couldn’t hear her over the general chatter.
Dot, a newcomer to the neighborhood who looked younger than her forty years sat down across from Wallis. “Two holes, good going Wallis,” she said, glancing at the file card by Wallis’ place.
Ginger took the chair Maureen had left as Julia settled into the empty folding chair.
“Hello again,” said Wallis.
“Glad to be back,” said Julia.
“Are we on three’s?” asked Dot, looking around.
“Yes!” yelled Angie who was around the corner.
“Are we ready?” asked Ginger, raising the bell. “Yes,” several voices yelled out in unison and the bell rang, signaling the start of another round.
The sound of dice hitting the table mingled with the delighted sounds of hitting the right number and the good-natured moans of scoreless tosses.
“Oooooh, traveling,” said Dot, surprised at her own luck of tossing a straight line of three’s. Angie hopped up from her seat, pulling off the bracelet made of strung together dice and handed it to Dot.