Vintage Void Fillers

PROMPT: “Write about old games we played.”

In the playground, they played Oranges and Lemons,

or some skipped, Double Dutch, & others ran, screaming, ‘Tick!’

I would watch from the wall, sighing, picking chewed fingernails,

humming Harold Lloyd‘s theme tune to drown out the silence around me,

frowning over Dad’s pending visit.

…He promised.

.

At home, we could have played Connect Four, Monopoly (I wanna be the Boot!), 

or Snap, and if big brother allowed, Pac Man or Asteroids. But

mostly, I watched TV till the sitters came; mom worked & my big brother had friends.

Then I’d be sent to my room, to unpack.

Dad… another no show. 

.

In my room, I played with Sindy and Barbie and Pippa, who never let me down.

We’d go on exotic holidays, shop, even dance, together. And we fell

in and out of love with big brothers Action Man. And we laughed & shared secrets, too.

Sometimes, I cried to them. They’d say, “It will be okay tomorrow,” 

because that’s what friends did … Right?

Author's Note

Hope this brings back memories for you guys too, or I'll feel old! :)

Reviews

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Shah... Now there is a new game Settlement. A bit similar to Monopoly... but involves
obtaining lumber, bricks, ore, wheat, and sheep. You build roads and cities and sometimes you win.
I wonder if the United Kingdom has discovered it. Your poem is delightful...
but sad when a parent does not keep a promise to visit. truly... Pat

[ShahW1]

Nope, not heard of that Patricia. Thanks for kind words. X