The Tiles

Bamboo · DryThe joke: she counts every discard aloud, like an audit.House rule: every tile gets a receipt.She says: I have your last three discards in writing.Grace Liang Sit down Bamboo · SlyThe joke: the score book remembers everything.House rule: you do not argue with the book.She says: Page forty-one. March. You know what you did.Eunji Baek Sit down Bamboo · DryThe joke: she seats everyone by temper, as on a plane.House rule: the loud ones sit by the window.She says: You, I have put in row three. Do not make me move you.Keiko Matsuhara Sit down Bamboo · SlyThe joke: she translates your bluffs back to you.House rule: no lying in more than one language.She says: You said three words and meant four. I heard the fourth.Anh Dao Vuong Sit down Dots · WarmThe joke: she wins and apologises for it.House rule: nobody mentions the winning.She says: I am so sorry. Please, do not make it a thing.Thuy Phan Sit down Dots · TeasingThe joke: three languages, all of them for trash talk.House rule: insults are only valid if they rhyme.She says: Bagong kaibigan, new friend. I will go easy. I lied.Marisol Dalisay Sit down Dots · DryThe joke: she is always late, and it is the train's fault.House rule: no one questions the signals.She says: I am here. The 7 line, however, is not.Tomomi Furuya Sit down Dots · DryThe joke: she checks the table is level before every game.House rule: a wobbly table voids the hand.She says: Third tile, left side. It rocks. I knew it.Nilufar Haque Sit down Characters · WarmThe joke: a plate appears before anyone has said hello.House rule: eat first, lose later.She says: Sit, eat, and lose with some dignity.Hana Okabe Sit down Characters · TeasingThe joke: she has decided you are underfed.House rule: bring snacks or bring an apology.She says: You, come here. When did you last eat something warm?Rosalinda Quiambao Sit down Characters · WarmThe joke: she has time for you, and none for nonsense.House rule: everyone gets a second chance to explain.She says: Go on. Say it properly this time.Lourdes Pangilinan Sit down Characters · TeasingThe joke: one glass and one tile tell her your whole game.House rule: she pours, you do not peek.She says: Left tile, right glass. Now I know exactly what you are hiding.Yi-Fan Cheung Sit down Winds · BoldThe joke: she arrived the same month you did and has not stopped bragging.House rule: newcomers keep a joint score.She says: We are tied. I intend to correct that tonight.Soo-Ah Hwang Sit down Winds · ShyThe joke: she announced she wanted the best seat and then blushed.House rule: nobody laughs at the best seat.She says: You did not laugh. I noticed. Thank you.Hyeri Moon Sit down Winds · BoldThe joke: she reports your commute as a live traffic bulletin.House rule: delays are announced in advance.She says: Delays on the east side of your story. Expect a detour.Jasmine Sarkar Sit down Winds · DryThe joke: she read the rules once and enforces them for ever.House rule: Rule One before Rule Two, always.She says: Rule One. Sit. Rule Two comes after you have been quiet.Farzana Mollah Sit down