TELLS

Look at your hand once. One time, then put it down. After that you look at me.

Why you?

Because the cards already know what they are. I'm the thing you've got to read.

I can't read you. You don't do anything.

That's the idea. Deal's yours.

[the boy deals; the cards stick to his fingers]

Lick your thumb.

Mom says that's gross.

Your mom doesn't play cards. And that's three to me, I get two.

...

You're not gonna tell me what you've got.

I'll tell you what you've got. You looked at that last card twice.

I did not —

Twice. A man who wants a card looks once and lets it lie. You looked, you set it down, you snuck back. That's a want, and you handed it to me for nothing.

[the boy takes two, discards one without looking at it]

Better. That time you didn't look at all. You don't know what you threw — good. Now neither of us knows a thing. Bet.

Bet what? I don't have —

You're a penny light from last hand.

I am not.

You sneezed, I let it ride. I'm not letting it ride now.

[a penny clicks down between them]

[later. the pennies have moved to the boy's side of the table.]

Two to you, old man.

[the grandfather looks at his hand. once. then at the boy.]

[the boy looks at his cards. sets them down. and — slow, the way he has been told all night not to — looks at them again.]

...

[the grandfather lays his hand face down.]

Take it.

That's all? You quit?

You wanted that card. Whole county could see it.

[the boy rakes the pennies in. he is keeping something off his face and not quite keeping it.]

[he stacks them in fours. it is how the old man stacks them.]

Deal.

I beat you, though.

You did. Deal.