They were playing tight. Lee and Raul I understood, they were almost out anyway, but Damon was surprising. I thought he’d be working to muscle me as...much as he could with his fat stack of chips and clothes to work with.We played a few more rounds, and I spotted a pattern. When I was already out of a hand, they would play normally and were slowly distributing the wealth to each other. If I was in the hand, they’d all fold unless they had a baller hand that they were confident would win them some. Arlen and his friends (and boss) had just gained a reprieve, courtesy of Herb, Ruthie’s deceased father. She needed us and if we were the friends and lovers that we claimed to be, her needs superseded our desires for revenge. What Ruthie needed right now was people to comfort and soothe her, hold her hand, hold her tight to our bosom, and let her cry on our shoulders. She needed a chance to cry and be weak, rather than having to be strong all of the time as she had been for Herb. She needed a. The lady walked in to meet the guest and wished me, “Ayya, Vanakkam Ayya” and asked if he remembered her.I was dumbstruck, I almost remembered her but it has been twenty years since that Monsoon.20 years ago:Heavy monsoon has inundated our maternal ancestry village. I was too stuck in the village due to heavy rains. It has been a week of heavy rain and my uncle and our village Pujari (Pundit) called me to a ceremony that evening. I was instructed to change to some fresh dhotis and I was. Her long silver hair was unique in the village. I went up to her from behind and wrapped my arms completely around her. She stomped down hard on my arch and I released her instantly and howled in pain."Oh my God Mickey, I'm so sorry. It was just a reflex. I got that all the time in the construction trade and occasionally at Lowe's. I learned to do that on reflex and I'm so sorry that I did that. I just didn't know it was you there. Please forgive me. I didn't mean it. Please?"I was bent over.