I.
Alberta
I’m wearing flip flops, bell bottoms, and a hoodie with the name of some surf company on it even though I live in the middle of the prairies and have never seen a surfboard. My high school graduation is still two years away and I have a grand total of two friends. We have nothing in common. Maybe they have seen a surfboard. Who’s to say. They’ve certainly never played World of Warcraft and couldn’t care less about Frodo.
Every lunch hour, a group of boys who I deem as similar to me – a bit nerdy, a bit lost, a bit awkward – play this weird card game. Today is the day that I’ve finally summed up the nerve to ask about it. Maybe they’ll let me play. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard both “dragon” and “wizard” said out loud but I can’t be sure. There’s only one way to find out.
The boys are seated on the cement stairs leading up to the drama room and they have their cards scattered in front of them as they continuously announce plays and add more to the mix.
I hesitate. I don’t want to interrupt the game. But still, it would be nice to have some like minded friends. Other class mates bustle around me, some heedlessly shoving me as they walk by. Someone makes a comment about my headband. “She wears it every day. I bet it’s to hold her hair in. She’d be bald without it.” What even? I contemplate removing the headband, but leave it on out of spite. Alright, it’s now or never.
I approach the group of boys and ask, “Hey? What are you guys playing?”
They completely ignore me until I leave.
II.
British Columbia
It’s now 2016. I’m running a Romulan Ale to a table of Power Rangers while I myself am dressed as an elf. Someone else has ordered a random shot so I hold the dice in one hand while balancing the tray of cocktails in the other. The four rangers are deep in concentration as the red one selects his Magic card to play. I wait for an appropriate time to deliver their drinks, admiring their dragon emblazoned playmats and the elaborate artwork on the cards. When the play is complete, I gingerly set the drinks down on the table, avoiding places where they could easily be tipped.
“So is this game difficult to get into?” I ask.
The group of rangers enthusiastically begins telling me the basic rules and what decks they are all playing, but I can see five other tables waiting to be served. It all goes in one ear and out the other. Especially when one of the rangers admits that the game is really expensive.
I’m barely making ends meet as a server as it is. Besides, now that I’ve collected a giant hoard of friends, most of my extra money is spent going out on my days off.
When I bring them their bill, it’s inside of a tiny treasure chest. Each bill comes with a Magic card and I expect they’ll be glad to see I’ve put one for everyone inside. Instead, they cringe at the way I had to bend them to get them all in the box.
III
Washington
It’s 2021. Our friend has just opened a card shop. Tom mentioned he played Magic years ago with his friends and would like to get back into it. It’s a difficult time to open a business and he’d love to help in any way he’s able.
I’ve spent the last few years either working on immigration paperwork or my Master’s degree and have met next to no one. “Well, if you’re playing, I’m playing.”
We venture into the shop having no clue what we’re getting ourselves into. In retrospect, our friend should have forbid us from crossing the threshold. We buy several packs of Strixhaven and a few of Kaldheim as well. We each choose a playmat with a dragon on it. Mine’s green. Finally, we both select a box of Dragonshields. The Classic Mints are calling my name. Tom settles on a modest black. The associate throws in a pair of dueling decks.
We sit down on the lounge side of the business and start “cracking packs”. I have no idea what any of the keywords on them mean. However, I’m ecstatic. I can’t wait for all the adventures the game will bring us. We sleeve every card, promptly run out of sleeves and have to go back for more. (Note: We still laugh about this. We had no idea that you’re not supposed to sleeve all of them, just the ones you intend to play with or are what the two of us call “fancies”.)
Eventually we’re told that Commander is the more social of the formats so we’re talked into buying two precons. Tom selects a fighty looking Wyleth and I’m talked into the sea monster rising from the depths to devour an entire city in his wake – Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait.
Our friend and a few patrons of the store ask if we want to play a game with our new decks. It’s all over for us in this moment.
We are officially Magic addicts.
Welcome to my blog! I’ll be discussing personal stories, reflections, and memories regarding Magic the Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, various video games, and other items of nerdy interest. Most of these should have a humorous or at least a somewhat relatable outlook. Take a look around and toss me a follow if you’d like to see my next post!
Nichole Bolas 