Me and my abuela cheat when we play Rummikub
Who’s to say
If you pick up a repetida in the first hand
You might just put the second one back down
When you’re picking up the initial 14.
Who’s to say
If the color was blue or black,
They really are so similar.
Even when the blasting light is right next to her,
Abuela always tries to put down a forro.
Who’s to say
I might just throw my extra ficha on the ground
When I see that you’re about to win.
Even if it’s not a mono (for a whopping 30 points)
I’ll try to unload a 10,
Throw it out of the sinking boat
Before you can see me doing otherwise.
Who’s to say
Why abuela likes to play so much
Even though she often gets pollona,
Writes a big fat “goose egg”
When she ends up with all that empty space
In the column where she would’ve recorded gains.
It’s a special treat when Abuelo plays with her
Makes it off the couch
Burgundy leather ruffled and worn
Where he’s always sitting.
He knocks the ficha on the table
To indicate “pass”.
When the women play, we announce
“YO ROBÉ”
But he always tries to maintain
The confidentiality of it.
Who’s to say
Why me and my abuela just want to win,
Oh so badly.
Catch us both laughing on the flip
When you call us out
On one of our shenanigans.
That the game is so very special
And I will always have one in my house.
I inherit so much of her.