The Bingo Sisters
Baby Bingo
Our next-door neighbors have a brand new baby so when the grandparents, Millie and James, came to visit
we invited them to park their RV on the flat spot in front of our house and plug in to our electric outlet. We
became friendly and, on a particularly boring day when the baby had to go for a check-up, we invited them
to come with us to play Bingo.
They became instant fans. Having never played Bingo before, they absorbed it all like water after a long dry
spell. The risk factor fascinated them and they were ready for a game day or night.
I began to feel guilty, as it seemed they spent too little time with their daughter and new grandson, but they
were so delighted to play Bingo where everything was fresh and new to them. “What do you think?” I asked
Kate. “Should we hide out or refuse to take them for the rest of their stay?”
“Absolutely not,” said Kate with conviction. “They have every right to do what they want. They can ignore
family obligations completely. Who says they have to spend time cooing over the baby?” Kate does not get
all gooey over infants.
Still, I was uncomfortable and had some bad moments at Bingo when the thought of the Mom and new baby
intruded and made me lose concentration. Then I hit upon the plan of taking them to late night games so
they would have daytime’s for the family. They loved it. There is something almost mysterious about late
night games and the players are somewhat different, too. There is a greater proportion of men to women.
The men look a little rougher. There are no women crocheting doll clothes and putting them out for sale.
The atmosphere is not as social, although our new friends conversed with everybody and talked easily
about themselves.
They are from Canada and their very slight accent proved enchanting. When they won a game, everyone in
the room applauded. Millie smiled and flushed as if she had won a marathon. James patted her back in
encouragement. Kate grumbled that the very next number had been hers.
Then Susan, our next-door neighbor, came to call. She did not bring the baby but came with fire in her eyes
to ask if we were deliberately trying to sabotage her parents’ visit. “I haven’t seen them in a year,” she said,
“and now they are spending all their time going to Bingo with you or sleeping. Can’t you tell them you don’t
want to play Bingo?”
Silence filled the room. I could no more imagine not wanting to play Bingo than she could imagine her
parents visiting but paying no attention to her.
It took Kate to come up with the perfect solution. “Come along with us,” she suggested. “We’ll get them to
take the RV and the baby can be fed and you can both sleep as you want.”
It didn’t work out quite that way. Susan became as fiendish about Bingo as her parents. She and husband
Jack each “bought in” and then took turns playing the cards or caring for the baby. I think Jack spent most of
his time minding the baby, but he didn’t object. We all had so much fun that no one could complain.
Our next-door neighbors have a brand new baby so when the grandparents, Millie and James, came to visit
we invited them to park their RV on the flat spot in front of our house and plug in to our electric outlet. We
became friendly and, on a particularly boring day when the baby had to go for a check-up, we invited them
to come with us to play Bingo.
They became instant fans. Having never played Bingo before, they absorbed it all like water after a long dry
spell. The risk factor fascinated them and they were ready for a game day or night.
I began to feel guilty, as it seemed they spent too little time with their daughter and new grandson, but they
were so delighted to play Bingo where everything was fresh and new to them. “What do you think?” I asked
Kate. “Should we hide out or refuse to take them for the rest of their stay?”
“Absolutely not,” said Kate with conviction. “They have every right to do what they want. They can ignore
family obligations completely. Who says they have to spend time cooing over the baby?” Kate does not get
all gooey over infants.
Still, I was uncomfortable and had some bad moments at Bingo when the thought of the Mom and new baby
intruded and made me lose concentration. Then I hit upon the plan of taking them to late night games so
they would have daytime’s for the family. They loved it. There is something almost mysterious about late
night games and the players are somewhat different, too. There is a greater proportion of men to women.
The men look a little rougher. There are no women crocheting doll clothes and putting them out for sale.
The atmosphere is not as social, although our new friends conversed with everybody and talked easily
about themselves.
They are from Canada and their very slight accent proved enchanting. When they won a game, everyone in
the room applauded. Millie smiled and flushed as if she had won a marathon. James patted her back in
encouragement. Kate grumbled that the very next number had been hers.
Then Susan, our next-door neighbor, came to call. She did not bring the baby but came with fire in her eyes
to ask if we were deliberately trying to sabotage her parents’ visit. “I haven’t seen them in a year,” she said,
“and now they are spending all their time going to Bingo with you or sleeping. Can’t you tell them you don’t
want to play Bingo?”
Silence filled the room. I could no more imagine not wanting to play Bingo than she could imagine her
parents visiting but paying no attention to her.
It took Kate to come up with the perfect solution. “Come along with us,” she suggested. “We’ll get them to
take the RV and the baby can be fed and you can both sleep as you want.”
It didn’t work out quite that way. Susan became as fiendish about Bingo as her parents. She and husband
Jack each “bought in” and then took turns playing the cards or caring for the baby. I think Jack spent most of
his time minding the baby, but he didn’t object. We all had so much fun that no one could complain.