Routine

Every week, at the same time they would come together. From all walks of life, they would come. They had been together for so long that they were as one. It was if they had some appointment with destiny. Some great appointment with destiny. At this same time every week with their two dollars clutched securely in their hand they would come. They wondered if today was just going to be another day like always or perhaps today they would win? Would today be the day their luck would turn? Maybe, today they would win.

As they walked the many steps to the old building they saw the others. The others never smiled their way. They were a sombre, quiet, and austere people. They very rarely smiled even to each other. They were firm of purpose and headstrong. The others had an appointment to keep so they walked. There group had fallen a little through the years. Many of the young ones had grown and left the group. Their thoughts were not like the others in the group. Their ideas were more progressive. They were willing to take risks and live in the moment. They knew they couldn't stay so they left. They left the others behind. Those that stayed were mostly grey-headed elderly ladies. Evelyn found herself amongst this group. Although, she tried to make friends with them she never felt she quite measured up to their standards. She still had some rebel believes, and they knew it. She tried to live with their old belief but at times she found herself kicking against a world that seemed to be foreign to the others.

The old building with its ivy clinging to the brick was well maintained. The others would see to that. Only a few more steps now and they could say good-bye to the world for one hour. Sheltered within those four walls they could escape the world outside. The others made their way to the big old stone steps and went in. The greeting at the door was "Good afternoon". That was the first and only time the others talked. This was there time in this big old house and they were going to make the best of it.

As they settled down for another hour they looked out the window and saw the people walking, the people that they didn't want to acknowledge. They were walking to their appointed destiny. They never went upstairs. That was not their place to go upstairs instead they followed the route that had been laid out for them for years. They walked one by one down the cold grey staircase to the basement and disappeared. There they would find what they were looking for. There they would unload their two dollars. There they would finally discover if they were going to be winners or losers.The others sat quietly affixed to the goings on in front of them. The room was steely quiet as the music started. They were all there, waiting for the show to start. The Master of Ceremonies walked up the aisle and took his place. He looked out at them and realized his numbers were dwindling. He stood and quietly wondered how he could bring the young ones back. His words cracked the air with "shall we pray". The others bowed their heads to begin that silent hour. In the deadly quiet the spell was broken by the scream from down below "BINGO" and another Saturday afternoon had begun