It was nice to find a rare moment of calm. Her classes were over for the summer, that was true. High school was over for good, actually, since she had graduated. What was she going to do next? Mariam wasn’t actually sure. She was going to go to college, of course. It was expected of her, and she couldn’t really do anything else. Neither of her parents had any openings yet in their businesses for her to step in and start working her way up.

Truth be told, she’d rather do that than go to university, but the rules were the rules. No becoming an executive until she had her Bachelor’s.

So she’d just have to get her Master’s and own the whole thing.

Until then, she was going to relax, sip the best peppermint tea she could find, and watch poker tournaments on television. Tomorrow she might go out to the country property with her ATV and ride around for a bit. She’d wintered the vehicle and wanted to make sure it was in good working order if she was going to take it to the tracks around the more local riding ranges.

Until then, the peppermint tea.

Mariam sipped at it thoughtfully, watching the people left in the tournament squabble over the pot. It was pretty impressive for being so early in the game, a couple million dollars. She wasn’t sure, looking at the players, that all of them could afford to lose that kind of money. Maybe they were emboldened because of how many people were involved.

Less risk for each of them individually, and all.

She was interested to see if those same players would be as bold as the game went on and more of the pot had to be sourced from their individual funds. From what she had seen, that was when most people started to be more reserved, more holds and stays, and much fewer “all in”s called.

A sip of her tea, and she watched someone overextend themselves, go “all in”.

And lose.

Another thoughtful sip of her tea.

They should not have been so confident.

As the player walked the walk of shame from the table to whatever back dressing room the players came from, the other people at the table exchanged glances with not a single regretful glance between them.

Not that she blamed them, considering. It was not their fault if someone overestimated their capability and lost. Besides, it was still early in the game. This was where the hobbyists and casual players found themselves outmatched, where they went home through the back dressing room. Usually from the fault of no one but themselves.

Siiiip.

Oh, one of the players had a pair of kings right on the flop.

Oh, another player had a possible straight on the flop.

Siiiiiiiiiiip.

The other players had fairly mediocre hands compared, and she wasn’t surprised when they folded. The turn saw both of the remaining players up their bets considerably. The only thing that could beat the player with the straight was a full house, and it was not terribly likely--

Oh, okay.

The river card gave the other player a full house, which definitely beat the straight. Mariam watched the player debate their hand, having no idea that they had the winning hand of the two of them. She watched them cast glances at the player with the straight, trying to get a read at a face that stared stonily back.

And the player with the winning hand folded.

When the cards were revealed, the dismay on that player’s face was clearly evident, as was the relief on the face of the player that, a moment ago, had certainly been going to lose.

A good life lesson, she supposed. Even if she didn’t have the winning hand, all she had to do was convince the other person that she did.

Siiiiiiiiiip.

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