Upkeep

It just turned evening as everyone gathered in the warm shop that was filled with fans fighting against the hot air. There is many people ranging from mostly middle aged men to a few kids. There was only one person working who I assumed to be the owner. I can only imagine how he was going to handle the many people in his shop. However he seemed more focus on refilling the fridge with drinks and snacks then the people.

Slowly he took players names one by one and added them into the tournament roster, not paying to the kids asking for the cards that were displayed in the display cases. When everyone was placed on the Roster, he did roll call, like how a teacher would to his students on the first day of school. When the games started, everyone was engaged against their opponents, and volume of the players decreased and the shop was more quiet.

A blond teenage boy lost his match but it didn't seem to affect him much. He went up to the counter and asked the owner if he could purchase a certain card. He seemed like a regular since he knew the owner's name without asking for it. A little boy then came up which I assumed to be his little brother since they looked a little identical. Soon after  problem occurred, the Teenager was down one dollar. His little brother offered him some money in exchange for his snack. Before the teenager had a chance to respond the owner told him that he had exactly one dollar in store credit. The little brother then became upset since he wanted his brother's snack and he wasn't going to get it anymore.

Time passed and large man got up and few of his (which I assume) buddies as well, and they all walked out of the shop for a smoke. They seemed a little angry, probably because they lost or they just really needed a smoke. Meanwhile the owner was taking a break and was eating a cheese pizza. One thing I notice is that most of the middle aged men knew each other in a way. Even the ones form Las Cruces knew the men from Alamogordo and El Paso. They refer to each other as nerds even though they clearly were themselves.

As things started to wrap up, The blond teenage boy's mother walked in to give him his lunch money. It seemed though the teenager had an obsession since he would rather spend his lunch money on cards. Some people stayed after the first tournament was done, because another tournament was started and I was told that this one usually ends at 5:00 am in the morning or when the sun starts rising. These people seemed very dedicated and passionate in the game.

Different card tournaments are held here, maybe the people are different as well.