The object of the game was to be the first one to get rid of all your cards. I won the first two, not because I was good but because some of the kids had a hard time figuring out the rules.

 When Fadi’s turn came along, I took a risk and shouted out “kazab!”* But I was wrong, so when he hollered “Allahu Akbar” I knew my winning streak was over.

*Kazab means “liar” and is also the name of the game.