Playin' Games

In addition to Christmas being a special time for children, it's also when we take a little more time to have fun and play some games with those children. Charley likes to play word games, guessing games and any other sort of game that stimulates his mind when we're driving. He loves to have Mackey join in, and it does beat listening to the radio.

We were on our way home from an evening of Christmas shopping last night and near the dump, Charley shouted out from the back seat, "Let's play 'Read My Mind', Mackey. What number am I thinking of between one and ten?"

"Six!" I shouted back at him.

"No, eight," he yelled.

"That was my second choice," I told him. "Do it again."

"I'm ready. Guess," Charley said.

"Three!"

"You're right, Mackey! It was three. That's what I was thinking of!" (I'm only right about a third of the time. I don't want you readers thinking I'm good at this, mind you.)

"I want to play!" Sage announced, not wanting to be left out.

"Okay, Sage," I instructed. "Think of a number between one and ten and Charley and I will guess what it is."

"Okay!" He was excited to be included. "I'm weady. Three!"

"No, no, Sage!" Charley groaned. "You can't say it. You have to think it and Mackey and I will read your mind."

"Okay." Mr Agreeable.

"Now, think of a number between one and ten," Charley patiently instructed again. "And now Mackey and I will think what it is."

"Okay." There was silence from the back seat.

"Have you thought of the number yet, Sage?" I asked. I couldn't feel what number he was thinking of. All I could read from him was blankness.

"No!" he announced. "I'm thinking. Oh, okay, I got one."

"Okay," Charley and I chimed in together. We started to concentrate.

"It seven!" Sage announced proudly.

Charley groaned and I laughed. Sometimes it was hard to play with five year olds. Once again, Charley patiently explained the particular 'rules' of this game.

"Now, Sage," he repeated. "You gotta think of a number between one and ten. AND DON'T SAY IT OUT LOUD! Mackey and I will guess what it is. Now... think of a number. Okay, now don't say it out loud. We will guess."

"All wight," Sage sounded subdued.

"Now, my turn," Charley announced. "I'm thinking of six."

"Okay, Sage," I concentrated, well as hard as you can while you're driving a dark country road with two mind readers in the back seat. "I think you're thinking of one."

"Wong!" Sage chortled. "You both wong! It eleven!"

May you enjoy this season of children and games and maybe even win a few!