A Game of Dominoes

              Christmas had just gone by and Paul had gotten what he had asked for and he was on his way to Fred’s house to play with his Christmas gift in hands.

            His family was going through dire straits so he asked Santa to bring him a game he could play with his friends. He was ten years old and he knew who Santa was, he didn’t want to ask for something his parents couldn’t afford.  He had seen some old men playing dominoes at the park and he was intrigued with how much fun they had.

            Reaching Fred’s, Paul rang the doorbell and Fred’s mother answered.

-           Hello Paul.

-           Hello Mrs. Sanders. Is Fred home?

-           No, he went to the restaurant with his dad today.

-           Oh. I wanted to play with him. I got a game for Christmas.

-           Go down to the restaurant. I am sure you’ll be able to play with him there.

-           Ok. Thanks. Bye

            He just had to walk down the street and he was at the restaurant. It wasn’t a fancy place, quite simple in fact; decorated in tones of green and yellow. Sometimes Mr. Sanders invited him to eat there and he thought that the food was very yummy.

-           Hello Mr. Sanders. Is Fred here?

-           Hello Paul. Yes, he’s out back. Go ahead and see what he’s up to.

Happily and anxiously Paul walked out back. He couldn’t wait to show his

best friend his new toy. Fred was sitting with his back to the door and Paul noticed that he was playing with something.

-           Hey Fred, what’s up?

-           Hi there Paul. I was just playing with my new video game. Look.

-           Cool. Paul was a bit upset.

He knew that Fred’s game was much better than his and now he wouldn’t

want to play with him.

-           You have to press all these buttons and then the little soldiers shoot everyone and defend their territory.

-           It sounds really exciting.

 Paul tried to hide his simple game.

-           What’s that you got?

 Fred pointed to the small box in Paul’s hands.

-           This is a Dominoes game.

-           Dominoes? Can I see?

-           Sure.

 Paul hands him the box.

-           Where do you turn it on?

-           It’s not digital or anything like that. You need to play on a table. Come with me.

Paul walks over to the restaurant and tells Fred to take a seat.

-           Let me show you how to play. Each player draws seven dominoes. Like this.

Paul draws seven and Fred does the same.

-           To win the game you have to get rid of the dominoes you have. Whoever has the highest double goes first.

-           I have a double six.

-           Ok so you start Fred. Now, I have to put down a domino with the same numbers next to the first domino. And we take turns putting them down.It doesn't matter which end but you have to make sure the same numbers are always touching. Do you understand?

-           Yeap, but Paul, what if I don’t have a domino that matches either end?

-           Then you have to pick from the pile until you don't get a domino that matches.

-           What if there are no more dominoes left in the pile?

-           Then you just pass. The first person to run out of dominoes wins.

-           Can we play Paul?

-           You really want to? Yours is much better.

-           No, it isn’t. Mine can only be played alone. Yours seems more challenging and you know I love a good challenge. Or are you afraid that you are going to lose?

-           Lose? Me? You’re on. Let’s play.

Paul and Fred played for hours. They laughed and yelled every time they laid a domino down. They were having a blast. They kept score as to how many times each one won. As the customers arrived for dinner, they were surprised to see those two little boys having such a good time playing a simple game of dominoes.

( Written December 27, 2012)

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