Wheelin' & Dealin'

It's about time I post a student story... I don't think I have yet this year.

My classes begin each period in my room by reading silently for 20 or so minutes. Most of them are really good about it, and love the time they get to read. Today during 4th period, however, within the first five minutes of reading time, I discovered a few sneaky students occupying their time by, oh, ya know, just playing a game of cards... like it's no big deal and that I wouldn't see them (I mean, three of them had a handful of cards, all spread out, ready to play. They had put the deck in the middle of them and were set.). They forgot I have eyes like a hawk...and that their table sits in my direct line of sight. Haha. One of them made eye contact with me and he knew it was over. I confiscated the cards and told him he could come get them after school. Our conversation went as follows:

Me: Your cards are lovely, but reading time isn't exactly the most appropriate time to play them.
Student: I know, but it's the only time I can play them.
(As if this is a regular occurrence in my room for him---it's not.)
Me: Well, it's still not the time to play cards. Silent reading time is for reading. Silently. Not playing cards. You can come pick them up after school today.
Student: Sigh. Okay.

I would love to get into his head and see what exactly made him think that playing cards with his table mates would be an acceptable activity during reading time.... or at any point during a class. Thank you, teenagers, for making my job so entertaining.