Games grandchildren play

Back in the ’70s, psychologist Eric Berne wrote a book called Games People Play. Later on, one of his associates wrote a book titled Games Children Play but, to my knowledge, no one has written much about the games grandchildren play. And, while Dr. Berne’s book, as well as others down that line, were written about psychological games people play in order to get their way, I’m really more interested in actual games or activities that I see my grandchildren playing.

Even a casual observance of children at play reveals how much more energy a child has than a grownup. I don’t know about you, but I have no desire to run and jump and skip around all over the place, but my grandchildren do. And they (the younger ones at any rate) love to play hide and seek — or some variant of chase, such as King’s Base or Single Base.

When we have family gatherings at our place, the grandchildren are usually either outside riding on skates, skateboards, or bicycles, or they are running around to the back of the house to play on the deck stairs and so forth.

If it is cold or rainy or too dark to play outside, they are down in the basement playing ping pong or reading or inventing their own games. And some of the invented games can be quite charming.

For instance, after one family gathering a while back, I found a piece of paper on the desk in my downstairs office. I picked it up and eventually deciphered it. It seems that Titus, who is 12 and aspires to be an auctioneer, had been holding a livestock auction. And the livestock

he was auctioning off were not your typical black baldy cows.

No indeed. These cattle were prime stock of the grandchild variety with a couple of recurring names, because you need buyers, too, you know. So the auction bill looked something like the following with original spelling:

Hefer – Maila (Malia) – sold to Jami for $280

Bull – Landon – sold to ??? for $735

Bottle Calf – Maila – sold to J. Byrnes

Angus – Landon – sold to

I guess that game got interrupted. We may never know. But a couple of weeks ago, the family was all over for my birthday and the grandchildren were at it again — another auction but, as always, the same auctioneer. I found this note in the basement later:

Landon – Bull- lb. 1,000 (You would have to know Landon).

Malia – Milk Cow – 600 lb.

Danny (Dani, aged 3) Young cow with Malia – 100 lb.

Byers –

Laila – Bull - $175 per lb, 1000 lb.

Jami – Milk Cow & Calf $150 per lb.

When Titus (12) isn’t auctioning them off to each other, Laila and Malia (first cousins and both aged 10) are into making greeting cards.

For Christmas, we were all at our son Jason and Carrie’s place for the afternoon and evening. At one point I stepped into the guest bedroom where the two cousins were working on something at the dresser.

“You can’t come in here, Papaw,” Malia said, “We’re working on you a Christmas card!”

After supper, the girls brought me their card. This is what it said:

Dear Papaw and Miss Linda,

We love being your granddaughters! You both are wonderful! Hope you have a great New Year! With love from, Malia and Laila.

The girls took turns writing each sentence and used blue and red markers on a green card. They drew a snowman and a heart and a scattering of stars.

I treasure this card and will always keep it safe in my desk — right next to the auctioneer bills!

For my birthday, these two gave me another card with Snoopy on the front. Their message read, Dear Papaw,

Hope you had a happy Birthday with lots of love, from your granddaughters, Laila and Malia.

So, after everyone left my birthday supper, Linda discovered one more piece of paper. I think this was done by Titus and Jami who are both 12. I also think it was in response to Malia and Laila and their tendency to form exclusive clubs. The note said:

To join our club you have to have a very good knowledge of decimals and percents. Also, you should be able to eat with your mouth closed. 1/3 = .33 = 33 %

Well, I guess that excludes all of the younger ones on all counts, but I doubt if they mind.

I have saved the grandchildren’s favorite game for last. Their favorite game by far is when their Uncle Eric (or Dad, as the case may be) pretends to be a bear. Eric will get down on hands and knees and go rambling (growling all the while) around the house looking for grandchildren who are hiding in various places. The keen anticipation of the children (especially the younger ones) is palpable. And when a child is found, the growling of the bear and the screaming and shrieking and running of the children brings forth laughter on all sides. The bear is also interesting to behold as he is a bit heavier, a bit redder in the face, and a bit more out of breath than when he first began playing this role.

Sometimes it is the bear who hides and the children have to go find him — or the brave ones at any rate. The growls of the bear are so awesome, the fright of the children so real, and the laughter of the grownups such that everyone has a lovely time and, thankfully, lives to tell about it.

May the games continue!

Sam Byrnes is a Gentryarea resident and weekly contributor to the Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at sambyrnes57@gmail.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author.