Losing the ability to play

What was the last game you invented?

Photo by Nong V on Unsplash

Once Upon A glee on any kid’s face as they move from toybox to toybox to show you what’s inside. The tumbling pieces of unfortunate plastic spill over the floor. Some come with their own story, but others have to be created by Player 1, and added to in Multiplayer versions.

Meanwhile parents know they will be the Happily Ever After, which involves closing the book on this fairy tale with the tedious daily task of tidying up said toys.

The sequel is “grown-ups”, when lives become tasks and obligations, so rigid and severe, it would seem. The only rules are set by institutions and so-called leaders, rather than our friends in collaboration. Even the drinking games have gone out the window, and Wordle or Candycrush are the remaining moments of play.

Imagine you’re a helium balloon

That magical dreamland was so easy to enter before, but takes a bit more work these days. I use my ability to conjure a different plot to help me drift into the land of nod. Some visions always stay the same, winning world cups, climbing high peaks and flying around saving the day.

But listen to a posse of primary schoolers for a real lesson in imagination. As elements of their surroundings combine, putting covid into…