Les Cockrell

PILOT POINT — Enter the Pilot Point Senior Center on any weekday morning, and you’ll probably notice a peculiar clicking sound as you walk toward the rear of the building.

The sound is unique to a game that’s favored by many of the men and women who gather here for activities and fellowship, a game that’s been played in Texas for generations.

The game is dominoes, and the clicking is created when 28 small tiles used for play are mixed together atop a table.

Numerous games are played with dominoes, but for many residents of the Lone Star State, the game of choice is 42 — or “Texas 42,” as it’s often called.

“It’s known as the national game of Texas,” said Howard Kimble, one of those taking part in a recent game at the center.

Played by four players using a standard set of double-six dominoes, 42 is a team game, with each player seated opposite his or her partner. After the 28 dominoes are shuffled or “shaken” face down in the center of the table, each player draws seven tiles, concealing their faces from other players.

An observer will soon note many similarities between 42 and some card games. The seven dominoes drawn by each player are called a “hand,” and players “bid” based on the strength of their dominoes. There are “trumps” and “tricks,” and players must “follow suit” whenever possible.

There is a good reason for the similarities, fans of the game say. Legend has it that 42 dates back to the 1800s, when young men invented the game as an alternative to card games, which were frowned upon by conservative, religious families.

“Cards were a no-no, but you could play dominoes,” Kimble said.

The team that wins a hand gets one mark, and the first team to get seven marks wins the game. Teams can win a hand or gain a mark by either making their bid or by preventing their opponents from making theirs.

The game may appear complicated to the uninitiated, but most players say it doesn’t take long to learn.

“I struggled when I was first learning,” Kimble said. “After a while, it kind of fell into place.”

Tammy Armor, center director, smiled when asked if she plays the game.

“I can’t get the hang of 42,” she said.

The men and women who routinely fill the tables at the center, however, are passionate about 42.

“I’m not a native,” said Jim Bruner. “When I moved up here, that’s all they played, so I had to learn to play 42.”

The game seems to have a language of its own, and as the dominoes are shuffled and players study their hands, a friendly and comfortable banter begins:

“You’re trying to get my count now.”

“You might as well play it and let me get it.”

“I can’t shake ’em worth a hoot.”

“You can’t play if you can’t get the dominoes.”

“That was a walker.”

“You’re gonna lead the wrong one, no matter which way you lead it.”

“I can’t catch anything with four blanks.”

“It’s better to lose a nickel than a dime.”

Although partners are not allowed to trade signals about the strength of their hands, practiced players often can get an idea about which dominoes were drawn by how play proceeds. Serious players scrutinize every play, keeping a mental tally of important dominoes that are still “out.”

“You have to hope your partner can help you,” Kimble said.

The center often has games going at two or three tables, although some participants take a break for cards now and then.

“At Thanksgiving, we had 42 players,” said Ella Davis.

Davis tells of moving to Texas from Oklahoma when she was 6 years old.

“I played dominoes before that,” she said. “I’ve played all my life.”

Jesse Rayzor recalled learning the game from his parents.

“That was back in the days when we didn’t have TV,” Rayzor said. “That’s all the entertainment we had.”

Rayzor, a Pilot Point native, paused and looked around the room.

“We have a good time up here,” he said. “We’re lucky to have this place.”

Virgil Berend, another Pilot Point native, agreed.

“I’ve been playing all my life,” he said. “Our crowd is getting low.”

Willene Crutsinger, who said she’s played 42 for about 60 years, also recalled a time when dominoes were a fixture at family and social gatherings.

“That’s all we did,” she said. “We played 42 and Moon. The younger generation doesn’t know how to play 42.”

The center is located at 310 S. Washington St. Hours are 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. A meal program is available for those 65 and older; others pay $5. Meals must be ordered in advance.

“Anybody can play dominoes,” Armor said, adding that a St. Patrick’s Day party is planned for March 17. For more information or to inquire about volunteer opportunities with the Meals on Wheels program, call 940-686-2639.

Now, whose “shake” is it?

Side trips

The Pilot Point FFA and 4-H will have a livestock show, fundraising auctions and a catfish dinner Saturday.

The livestock show will begin at 10 a.m. at the Pilot Point High School agriculture barn, located just north of the school.

All of the animals at the local show will be shown at a later stock show or at the county show, said Tammy Glascock, agriculture instructor and FFA sponsor.

“This is a practice for other shows,” she said.

A pet show for children in third grade and below also will be held, said Galen Ewton, board member with the Friends & Family FFA/4-H booster club.

“Everybody will be a winner,” she said.

The catfish dinner will be served in the high school cafeteria at a cost of $5, with tickets available at the door. Children younger than 5 eat for free.

A silent auction will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., and a live auction will begin at 7 p.m. Both will be held in the cafeteria and will feature items donated by area organizations and merchants.

“We’ll also have projects that kids have made in class,” Glascock said.

The high school guitar club will provide entertainment, and all proceeds will benefit FFA and 4-H programs.

There are 220 students enrolled in agriculture classes at the high school, and about 100 will be participating in Saturday’s show, Glascock said.

“We’re fortunate,” she said. “We have a large turnout for our classes.”

Students involved in the FFA and 4-H programs work well together, Glascock said.

“We go hand-in-hand here,” she said.

For more information about Saturday’s events, call Glascock at 940-367-6245.

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Riding Unlimited in Ponder is seeking volunteers for the upcoming Area 11 Special Olympics Equestrian competition.

Riding Unlimited will host the competition on Sunday, April 11, and volunteers are needed to work as horse handlers or side walkers, said Patricia Dellemann, volunteer coordinator for the program.

Although the competition is still a few weeks away, volunteers are needed now, Dellemann said, and no experience is required. Training will be provided.

Those interested in volunteering can send an e-mail to equineride@embarqmail.com.

More information about Riding Unlimited can be found at www.ridingunlimited.org.

LES COCKRELL is interested in your input for Out & About. Help share information about Denton County events and people by calling 940-566-6887. His e-mail address is lcockrell@dentonrc.com .