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Marbles, Don’t You Dare?

I find that I must often sit while taking my morning walk. Today was no different I gratefully took the weight from my legs by plonking myself down on a park bench. For the thousandth time I ask myself where my energy has disappeared. A quarter of an hour ago I was raring to go on my early morning walk, now a quarter of an hour later and my legs protest as if to day was the very first time that I had ever used them.

One pleasure came happily trotting by. A group of small children in the care of two elderly ladies approached my Park Bench. To my delight they stopped by the park bench where I was sitting and from numerous pockets appeared glass marbles. Marbles of all sizes and colours. I was immediately taken back to my early days on this World of ours, I could have taken the place of any of these children. There was I am happy to say no secrets in playing marbles. My old brain had not forgotten a thing about the game. I was tempted to ask one of the kiddies to allow me to take his go for him. Some how I did not like the looks that the two elderly ladies were throwing my way. These looks got me to thinking, did I really look as if I would or even could harm any of these children. My interest in the game of marbles I would have had difficulty in explaining to an Adult and these two Ladies did not look as if they would understand why an old man would want to play a game of marbles with such young children.

Reluctantly I lifted my tired body from the park bench and leaning heavily on my walking stick I slowly moved on further into the park. Here there were no children, one other man that greeted friendly enough. He spoke, “I see they have managed to drive you away too. I thought they might. The pair of them are like a couple of hens looking after a bunch of young chicks.” I had to agree with the man; In turn I explained that I had this urge come over me to challenge the children to a game of marbles. But when I saw the looks the women were giving me I decided not to. Suddenly the man surprised me yet again, He asked; “You wouldn’t have any marbles in your pocket would you?” I think I shocked him by my answer. Oh! Yes I was Marble Champion way back in forty-eight and since then always have a few marbles in my pocket. Then came his challenge. I bet you a fiver that I am the better player than you. I know I am a fool but such a challenge I could not resist. Now two grown men taken off their coats and each with a handful of glass balls in full Ernst playing marbles like some six year olds. Right in the middle of the game the two Ladies with the children came through the park. The kids were delighted two grown men playing. All of the kids stopped to watch. The two women had completely lost all control over the kids. Marbles was their game why shouldn’t they watch two grown men playing their game of marbles. We finished our game; I had not forgotten any thing about marbles. The special twists of the fingers as one tossed the marbles.

The next day as I entered the Park one of the youngsters asked me if I would come along to where the children were waiting. They wanted to learn how we tossed our marbles. I went with him and there were not only the children but also the two elderly ladies all were waiting for me. My opponent from yesterday had already been taken to where the children were waiting.

The other man and I pitched and tossed marble after marble. The kids both boys and girls had the time of their young lives. The best part of it all we can now enter the park without suspicious looks being sent out way. Now when we are tired we sit on the nearest park bench no matter who is next to us. Marbles are part of our walks the kids always manage to find us and our methods of teaching how to pitch the marbles will I am sure be handed down from Father to son and that pleases me greatly. Bern