A: Let's play "
Go Fish"!
B: What's "Go Fish"?
C: Yeah, what's "Go Fish"?
D: Do we need fishing poles?
E: And bait?
A: Uhm, no. It's a card game.
D: Card game?
E: You mean, like trump?
A: Well, sort of. It's kind of like Old Maid, but different.
C: What's "Old Made"?
B: Is it something you made a long time ago?
D: I think that's a different "made".
A: Yeah. This is not the past tense of "make".
C: So what is it?
D: Isn't a "maid" an unmarried woman?
A: That's right.
E: Uhm, then, "old" is, like, not young?
A: Yeah.
E: Oh, yeah. Let me guess. One of the cards is the "old maid". And you take turns taking cards from each other. And nobody wants the old maid.
C: That's terrible! Prejudice! Discrimination!
E: It's
Baba-nuki in Japanese.
A: Right. Well, Go Fish is different. Instead of taking cards, you ask for them.
B: Does it use a trump deck?
A: It can. But I've made a deck of irregular verb cards.
B: Verbs! Yuck!
D: I get it. Different forms. Present tense and past tense make a pair.
A: Actually, past tense and past participle in the deck I made.
E: Sneaky. You're making us practice. Cool.
B: No. Not cool. You're mean.
A: But I've put the plain form on both.
B: Well, ...
C: So, how do we play?
A: I'll be the dealer the first time. First, I shuffle the cards, of course. Then I deal seven cards to each player, like this, face down. I put the rest of the cards in a draw pile, or "pond", where everyone can reach them.
D: Can we look at our cards?
A: Sure.
E: But we don't let anyone else see them, right?
A: Yeah. Look for pairs of cards in your hand. Put any pairs you have down in front of you.
B: Here in the middle?
A: Uh, no, you want keep them in front of you so you can count them later.
C: Do they count against us?
E: I think the one with the most pairs wins?
A: That's right.C
D: Who starts?
A: The player to the left of the dealer, or we can
jung for it.
All:
Jung-ken-poh!
B: I start!
C: So it goes to the left, anyway.
B: Okay, hold up your cards so I can pick.
E: Wait. That's
Baba-nuki. I think Go Fish is different.
A: Yep. Look in your hand and choose a card.
B: Okay, this one. I want this one.
A: You can ask anyone.
C: Not just the next person?
A: Right. Anyone.
B: Okay, Mr. A, give me this one.
A: That's one way to ask. What is it?
B: This one.
D: What's the word?
B: Uhm, let me see. "Eaten".
E: So the card that matches it is "ate", right?
A: Right. And I don't have it. Go fish.
B: Huh?
C: I think that means you draw a card from the pond.
A: Exactly.
B: Okay. Now what?
D: Does it match? Is it "ate"?
B: Yeah. Should I make a pair and put it down?
C: Lucky!
A: Yeah, put it down. And, since you got the card you asked for, you get to go again.
B: Okay, Ms. D, I want "sleep".
D: I want some sleep, too. But I don't have it. Go fish.
B: I didn't get it. What time did you get to bed last night?
D: I got to bed about three o'clock this morning.
E: That's way too late.
D: I was making a present for my husband.
C: What are you making?
D: Now, I can't tell anyone before I give it to him, can I?
E: Awww.
A: Can you make any other pairs, Mr. B?
B: Uhm. Nope. I gave my wife a present yesterday!
A: Okay, it's your turn, Ms. C.
D: What did you give her?
B: A box of chocolates.
E:
Goncharoff?
B: I think it was
Godiva.
C: I'm jealous. Hmm. Any card, and I can ask anyone?
A: Yeah.
C: Do I ask in plain form, or do I have to ask for the one I don't have?
E: I think we have to practice.
B: I can't remember them all.
A: It's up to you guys.
D: I vote we don't have to remember today.
C: Me, too.
E: Hmmph.
A: Of course, if we do remember, we should practice, but let's not make it too hard today.
E: Weeelllll, okay. I guess I don't mind.
C: Okay, I remembered. Ms. E, do you have "written"?
E: No. I don't. Go fish.
B: She's cheating.
D: I think she's hiding a card.
E: If I am, you'll find out.
A: Yeah, it can be pretty obvious if we cheat. So, no cheating!
E: Anyway, I don't have it.
C: All right. Let's see what I get. Nope, I didn't get it. But I can make a different pair now.
A: Great. Put that pair down, but, since it's not the one you asked for, it's D's turn.
D: Okay, Ms. E, do you have "done"?
E: Nope. Go fish.
D: Okay, I didn't get it, and I can't make a pair.
E: So, it's my turn. Mr. B, do you have "slept"?
B: That's sneaky!
D: Oh. I see. We have to listen to who asks for what.
E: Right!
B: Here you are.
E: Thank you.
E: Mr. A, do you have "gave"?
A: I would give you "gave", but I'll give you "given", instead. Here. Take this.
E: Oh.
C: Ah hah! You forgot the past participle!
E: Heh heh. Yep. Thanks. Now, it's my turn again?
A: Yeah.
E: Okay, Ms. C, do you have, uhm, "said"?
C: No, I don't. Go fish.
E: Okay. Hmm. It's your turn, Mr. A.
A: Okay. I want "said". Please give it to me.
B: Now Mr. A is being sneaky!
E: Here you are.
A: Thank you. Mr. B, do you have "got"?
B: No, I don't. Go fish.
A: Okay. Nope. Nothing. No match. Your turn, Mr. B.
B: Ms. E, you look suspicious. I think you have "slept".
E: I'm sure not getting enough sleep. Let me sleep. I haven't slept in the last twelve hours!
C: Now, that's teasing.
E: Heh, heh. Here you are.
B: Thank you. Ms. D, do you have, "goon"?
D: "Goon"? I don't think that's a verb. Please ask me again.
B: How do you say this?
C: "Gone."
B: Okay, do you have "gone", Ms D?
D: Yes, I do. Here it is.
B: Thank you. Mr. A, do you have "read"?
A: Did you say "reed?"
B: Uhm, is it like "red", then?
A: Yes. Please take this.
B: Oh! Thank you. Now I'm out of cards. What do I do?
A: We can either go out and wait, or we can draw a card and end the turn. Which way do you guys want to do it?
D: Let's keep playing.
C: I think so, too.
E: Yeah. Draw another card, Mr. B.
[About twenty minutes later --]
D: Ms. C, where have you been? I mean, do you have "been"?
C: Here you go. I'm out.
D: Thank you. That makes all of us.
B: So, now we count our pairs. Who won?
E: I think we all did.
A: I think so, too.
B: Let's play this again some time.
