The mood has turned serious and silence pervades apart from the shuffling of cards. It had been a boisterous atmosphere hours before. All that banter, love, and warm embraces are temporarily set aside. The light is on but the room feels darkened. The adults and myself sitting around the dining room table full of cards and cups of tea. A small television has long been switched off. The smell of my Grandfather’s cigarette pervades the room.

I have so many questions but I know to keep my mouth closed. This is adult time and I really should be tucked away in bed. My Mum has let me stay open a while longer but under strict instructions and letting me know I’m going to be tired tomorrow. And I’ll have nobody to blame but myself. Tomorrow doesn’t seem like something I should be worried about. Not at my age anyway.

My Granddad is looking serious. His many years are etched onto his face. The lines on his forehead become more pronounced as he stares at his cards. My uncles are struggling to quite take it so seriously breaking out into smiles every so often and joking about the poor cards they have been dealt. My Dad and Mam say nothing. I want to ask what they have but say nothing. My Gran shows me her cards and gives me a wide grin. We now have a secret bond. My Gran points at two of her cards. They look the same. That has to be good.

My Grandad put all of his match sticks into the middle of his table. Gasps ring out around the table. I gather they are playing something called “Poker” and these match sticks are somewhat important apart from lighting Grandad’s smokes. It’s all very strange.

The game ends abruptly. I asked Gran if we won. She smiles and says no.

Then they play again and then again.

I’m getting tired now. This is all too much. My Mam tells me I need to go to bed, that I’m really tired. I nod in agreement. I’ll have so many questions in the morning about these matchsticks and why they are so important. One after another, they wish me goodnight and my mind is full of wonder about what I’ll do tomorrow.

If only I could back now and watch them play one more time.