BINGO

Bingo! I still can not believe, that finally gave into my co-worker, and had gone to play bingo. The funny thing is that, I really enjoyed myself. My co-worker has been hounding me, ever since I started working with her nine years ago, to go with her to bingo. I was hesitant to go along with her for the certain fact in that, I believed that we were going to be surrounded by a bunch of white haired old women. That was a totally misconception on my part, because the total opposite was at attendance.
The night had that I gave in to my fairs of being trapped in a room with a bunch of old biddies, happen on February, 1 2010. She had come to pick me up at 5:20. I had asked her why she was so early. She replied by saying;”That if we don’t get their by a certain time, we would lose our places. Now, she had told me prior to me giving in that this place, which is actually a hall, expects at least one hundred people, so it is best to get there a little early.
When we had reached the place where bingo was, there were a lot cars all ready there. I read the sign outside of this medium size building and it read The Knights of Columbus. I expected to walk in and see a bunch of little Italian or Portuguese women huddling around, but no I was shocked by the many different ethnic backgrounds that were represented in one area in one night.
When we got there we had some time to wander around a little, so we walked around so I could become familiar with my surroundings. When you enter to hall it is on the ground level, there also is another level on top, but it is smaller and would not hold all of the people. The first thing that I had noticed was the little old men taking the money for admittance. While I was scanning the room I had notice that there were some plaques on the walls all over, I had asked what they were for and I was told they were members of the club past and present. On further exploring of the hall, I had noticed that in both of them, they had a stage, a small kitchen, and both contained bars. Even though they had bars there was no drinking of alcohol that night, but there was a lot of consuming of coffee. I noticed the huge coffee pots brewing; the hall had that stale coffee smell.
I had asked my co-worker how long she had been coming to bingo and what attraction did have to this game. Don’t get me wrong but, I know that people do not like to lose there money, But I really do not like giving my money toward something, and not getting change back or anything in return.
She told me that;”It all began when she was eight years old”. Back in 1982, mothers were allowed to bring their kids to the bingo hall. The kids could not play; they would have to do their homework or something else. In 1986 when she turned twelve, the rules had changed no one was able to be in the bingo hall under the age of eighteen. So, when she turned that age, she became regular on Monday nights.
True bingo players know when an armature steps into there house. The regulars could smell the blood in the water so to speak when I strolled in. The regulars are those who have been going to play bingo for many years. They really do not like it when new one comes in to lessen their chances of winning the jackpot. If you happen to win or if you happen to be a male you will hear some one some where make a comment about you being there.
They really can’t stand to see a man come into the hall. They believe that the men should be home watching some sort of sports show or working not being there. A gentleman had won the first night I was there, and a women yelled out;”GO HOME DON’T YOU Have BETTER THINGS TO DO THEN WITH BUNCH OF WOMEN”. I was afraid to win, I wanted to win but I was afraid to win anything, I probably would of gotten stoned or something.
Everyone there was either dressed in sweat pants, jeans, and some were wearing pajamas. Yes I said PJ’s. I found out that blind people are able to play also. They have these special cards that have brail on them so they can feel the numbers on the card. Their cards did not have as many numbers as the original cards, but they still could play. Did you know that not until about twenty years or so they used card board game pieces, along with plastic clear chips, with thin metal strips on them. They would place all chips on the board and when there number was called; they would use a metal magnetic dobber to remove the chips.
Things have change since then, now they have either a small stack or a larger stack of rip away papers. Instead of using the dopper, now they use a dabber. These dabbers come in all sorts of colors. There is no special reasoning why people have so many of them, because I did notice that they did have a lot and I had only one. They just like to change up the color here and there.
There are a few rules at this hall, no swearing, spitting, fighting, or stealing. You must show proof of payment of cards. If you win and you do not have your receipt they will not give you your winnings. The bingo hall in Middletown is really laid back. When certain numbers are called you will here some type of animal, or train whistle sound. Number forty-four was called someone yelled out “quack”, “quack”. The number twenty-two was called I heard; “toot”, “toot”. My co-workers mother would ring her bell when O69 was called.
I really did enjoy myself at bingo. I did not think I would be able to keep up with all of the regulars, but I did. I haven’t worked my way up to as many cards as them yet, but I am trying to get there, so I can be called a regular too.