Roll the dice

On dull weekend afternoons when it's too cold to go out or the kiddo has no game practice or play date, we may bring out our board games to pass the time away.

The family likes monopoly but the kiddo has not learned about wheeling and dealing yet. We may have to get a junior monopoly box. In the meantime, he would have to play with his toys while we roll the dice and strategise our buying and trading of properties. I don't quite like to play monopoly as I often lose. On the other hand, the kiddo's paternal grandad is always disputing the rules of the game and grumbles when his paper money runs out. He is the most amiable and sweetest person I have ever known except when he plays monopoly.

On one particular occasion, we played snakes and ladders so that the kiddo can also join in. It was a terrible mistake. At the start, the kiddo was enjoying the game and thrilled when his little token climbed up the ladder after a lucky roll of the dice.

The roof came down when he had to slide his token down the snake to the tip of its tail. He bawled so loudly, his parents could not pacify him. He refused to listen to reason and we had to stop the game. Sore loser! We have not played this board game again since that unfortunate day.