Coyote Too

The theme for this week's Microfantasy Monday is “Games”. It was inspired by something I saw during a lovely relaxing evening last night.

They say that Tic-Tac-Toe is a game that can't be won, once you understand it. I beg to differ.

The playing area was beautiful; smooth and slightly curved, with room for two games, one on either side of the delicate crevice between. The crosses had already been laid in place; long needles which wove in and out of sight to clearly delineate the area of play. In place of X's and O's, my competitor and I held short colored needles; his black, mine blue. I moved first.

I chose the corner, of course. The lower one, nearest the damp line between the game boards. A quick thrust, and my piece was in place.

The board quivered.

He blocked, the position not so delicate in appearance, but perhaps more tender.

Somewhere I heard a soft moan.

And so the game continued. It ended in a draw of course, but to entertain ourselves, we filled in the rest of the squares.

The second game was more lively; we had become more certain of the playing surface. His first move was quick and hard, and I followed suit just as rapidly. The board flinched and jerked. The moaning was punctuated with louder groans, and it became difficult to properly center our pieces in the squares. For us, it was over too quickly. He and I came to a draw again. The board…it came in a different way.

They say that Tic-Tac-Toe is a game that can't be won, once you understand it. She would beg to differ.