Oz, when he arrived, was greeted not only as an honored husband, guest, father and newly discharged Navy man, but as the fourth for bridge. This, at the cottage, is not the least of many good things that might be said about a person. We already had four people for bridge, but I am fond of sneaking out of the games and having sessions on my typewriter – antisocial and useless as that m ay seem. So, here was Oz, a surefire fourth.

 

But Gramps would not have it so. “Games is games,” and everybody plays. If there are too many, we cut in. Gramps is really sold on this theory, so Oz’s arrival served only to give Gramps an excuse to be insistent.

 

I started out with the rest of them on two evenings and on the third I stuck to my guns and hollered down to the living room for them to go ahead and I’d be right down. So the four of them started playing.

 

I take my promises seriously and in a few minutes I ambled down. Everyone was chewing candy and I helped myself. This is a time-honored way to be sociable and to take your mind off yourself and whatever you were doing previous to the candy.

 

They were bidding, and as I flopped down on the daybed I realized that Oz was bidding six-something. Then I lost interest, looking for a better piece of candy than the one I had.

 

Suddenly there was an uproar. Margot was noisily and excitedly setting Oz by trumping his ace. From the daybed, I saw Oz reach for the trick, realize that it was trumped and throw up both hands, stamping his feet on the floor at the same time.

 

The front legs of the chair left the floor and kept right on leaving it. The chair toppled backward slowly, Oz landing on his back like a big bug, waving his arms and feet in the air. Everybody roared. Slowly, as if to accent the fact that this was real, a glass of water fell from the table on to Oz, and also a cigarette tray with three butts in it turned over on the floor.

 

Everyone, including the big bug, was wild with laughter. I was getting ready to release some good hoots myself.

 

But Oz didn’t get up. My gosh, he’s hurt, I thought, and I’m the only one who, from my superior vantage point, can realize it! I made for him, but he shook me off and everyone roared some more. I realized that he was just lying there trying to figure out how to get his big self up without overturning the whole table.

 

He managed it and we all had another piece of candy. Of all the people present, Margot was the least concerned about him.

 

“Set and upset,” she laughed and Dad marked down the score.