Where's the Z?

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Thu, 25 Aug 2022
  • 1129 reads
11 comments
 

Some like the stress,
and mental strategies of chess;
but my mother and I liked to dabble
in playing scrabble – try for a double
or triple square covered, inflating my score,    
but when you have four
‘I’s or a ‘J’,’V’,’ ‘X’ and ‘Q’
– useless without the elusive ‘U’ … ?
(though now ‘qoph’ and ‘qats’
and ‘qintar’ and ‘faqir’
‘qi’ and ‘xi’and ‘za’ and ‘zo’, ‘ja’ and ‘jo’  
are allowed).
The serious player watches, prepared
for when he may pick up these awkward letters.
“Which are still in the stack in the sack?    
Don’t want to be stuck with the ‘Z’ or ‘Q’  at the end ahead”,
for it’s 10 off your score and also, what’s more
10 will be added to that of the one who already has won
despite all the chatter of those who just dabble and potter,
– prolonging his turn with a glower that’s stern
as his mind twists the letters and easily betters
our limited inventions.

At the end of one memorable game played
by my husband and mother
while I was away with first new-born child –
the bag was empty – ‘I haven’t got the ‘Z’?’, he pondered..
‘Can she play it?’
Typically, she hadn’t missed it, or wondered..

No, the game was complete – neither had got it:
puzzlement, and both arise – what's on the seat
below my lovely disorganised, casual mother –
a tile labelled ‘Z', somewhen she’d dropped it, sat on it
– least said!
wry grin from the serious player!   

[IP: Board Games]  This is a rework of a piece I wrote for an IP in 2013                  

Certificate U
Poem
Families
Humour
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Nolan on

I like to think I played a descent game of chess Rhiannon but I asssure you my mother was invincible at Scrabble. Scary. Trivial Pursuit the same except now for the sport questions and that, she'd never been interested and are of no consequence anycase. My mother was very clever.

Keep well, goodnight & Nolan

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks and goodnight! People do have their favourite games, and play with varying degrees of intensity! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Oh! I LOVE  Scrabble :0) My Mum used to play with me, in the unsuccesful attempt to make my brain work in a more sensible way. We used to use her dictionary from when she was at school in 1940's, and if it wasn't in there, it wasn't allowed, unless the player could lay their hands on an example in a book, in less than a minute. Am going to boast now....

I had WIZARDRY once, across TWO triple word scores, AND USED UP ALL MY LETTERS

 

I was reading Terry Pratchett at the time :0)

one of the high points of my life :0) Thankyou for reminding me. I loved the bit in your poem about your husband trying to think where the Z had gone, is just the sort of thing I did

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Oh, thanks for sharing that. Given us a lovely laugh. What a score!!!
My husband told me this evening that the Z was under her chair not on it where she was sitting! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you for the cherries. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

 

I love scrabble so found your poem delightful.  You brought into all the strategies and frustrations that we all experience when playing it. Since I have been ill, I haven't been back to my scrabble group but play by myself most days and take it very seriously.

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, glad you enjoy playing, Jean. We used to have a 'scrabble calendar' with a puzzle a day, but they don't seem to have done one for this year. We tried a mensa one, but find it either too easy or expecting specialised knowledge of odd things etc. We do have a countdown one, and I play simple patience on the laptop to relax! I tried 'wordle' but lost it when I denied cookies and might try to get access again! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

I loved your poem, especially as me and my partner play scrabble a lot. It's one of those pass times that we both enjoy and brings us closer together. It's always amazing when I get a seven letter word, and recieve that extra bonus of 50 points...I get so excited.

It's always a shame when you loose a tile, as the game just isn't the same. I think we've lost loads when playing in the garden, they just seems to disappear without a trace, which means we have to invest in a new scrabble set, I think we've been through about four new sets since we've been together, shows how much we play.

Interesting use of the I P Rhiannon and got me rambling on a bit...sorry about that.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jenny. Scrabble does seem to be a game that so many enjoy, and as you say, is a good way to enjoy and get to know each other's company, and some can play more intensely, and others in a more relaxed way, and does stretch the brain cells gently! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

My parents loved Scrabble, and I was brought up playing it. We had a family league, and one of my proudest moments was when I came out on top! Happy memories of sitting at the kitchen table, with the dictionary to hand. Thank you for posting this.

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Scrabble does seem to be a source of happy family times, aswell as good fun, whatever your skills! Rhiannon