Regular
Cousin Dre
Charlotte, North Carolina
Signature move: The late pull-up — arrives at trick one of hand three, wins hand four
“I brought wings, I brought heat, and I got next.”
Cousin Dre has never been on time to a card game in his life, and he’s never once arrived empty-handed either — the wings buy his pardon, and everybody knows it. He pulls up loud, mid-story, holding the bag over his head like a trophy, and somehow within ten minutes he’s got a seat and the table’s laughing.
The mouth writes checks his game can usually cash. Dre talks to the cards, talks to your cards, talks to cards that haven’t been dealt yet. But under the commentary he plays real whist — his auntie was Auntie Faye, and you don’t survive that kitchen table without learning your fundamentals cold.
His signature is uncanny: whatever hand he sits down on, he’s useless for one hand while he settles in and eats, then dangerous. Regulars know to press him early. Dre knows they know. “That’s why I stay late,” he says. “Y’all get tired. I get started.”