Marbles

Sunday, day when everyone in one family is at home. So were the Johnson's family. Jack and his sister Milly were home with their parents thinking about what interesting to do this Sunday. San, their father, came up with an excellent idea.

" Let's clean the attic, maybe we can transform it into a new room!"

" Yes dad, I would like to have my own room. I hate sharing a room with my sister!"

" That's good idea, but there's lot of trash there. I won't clean that!" said Suzanne, their mother.

" Me and dad will clean the garbage, you and Milly can clean the dust!"

"I don't wanna get dirty!" complained Milly.

" Milly, you will decorate the new room, okay?

"Okay mommy!"

" So, buddy are you ready?"

" Yes dad, let's go I can't wait!"

" Let's get the ladder first."

" This is exciting!"

"I'm excited too son, maybe we can find something long forgotten there."

"Like what?"

"Well, like some old staff that we don't use it anymore."

"Maybe we can find an old computer or TV".

"Let's see what's up there, follow me and be careful".

"I'm right behind you daddy".

"Here we are".

" It's so dark dad, and creepy".

" Take this torch, I'll find the lamp"

"How long haven't we been here?"

"I don't know, it's long ago look at the spider webs"

"Turn on the lights dad".

"Okay, I found the lamp"

" There are so many boxes, what's in there?"

" Old clothes, shoes, books, maybe some gadgets, your toys... many not useful things."

" Dad I like to search, maybe I'll find something interesting".

"Okay, let's choose what we'll keep, and what to throw".

"I'll open the biggest one".

"Go on son, and be careful".

"Wow, I told you about the TV. Look it's like a box and now we have big flat TVs".

" Would you like to check if it works?"

" For sure dad, plug it in".

San turned the old TV on and white dots appeared on its small screen.

"It works dad! Why there isn't a program?"

"Because we don't have the antenna, let's open another one"

"Look dad here are my old toys... My Lego and my toy cars. I'll take them"

"And look son, here are my toys... this is amazing!"

"Your toys?!" Asked Jack with a surprise "I'm curious what's that".

"This, son, is a Nintendo. I used to play games on it a lot".

"Just as I play on my PlayStation?!"

"Even more. Уour grandma couldn't take me off it".

" How does it work dad?"

"Well, it's same as PlayStation, you put CD but I put a cassettes. And the games were more simple than yours".

" What was your favorite game dad?"

"Hm, it was Super Mario."

"Really, I know this game".

"Do you want to keep this toy, or to throw it?" Asked his dad.

"Well I have a PS and that's the same. I don't need it, throw it."

"I would like to gift you some of my old toys, son".

"Really, what's that?"

San found a big jar with thousands of colourful marbles, and showed it to his son. Jack was amazed by it.

"Wow, dad what are these? They are a lot!"

" These little balls made of glass are called marbles."

"Of glass?! Can they break?"

"Yes, if you hit them very hard".

"What did you do with these dad?"

San started reminiscing about the days when he and his friends were playing marbles on the dusty ground day and night.

"We put the marbles in the center of a ring, then we had to hit them out of the ring. Every marble you knock out of the ring you keep it for yourself".

" Wow, then you were the best player dad, cos you have a lot!"

"Yes, I was the best player, kids were afraid to play with me."

"Because you took all their marbles, hahah"

"Haha true, all these are my friends' marbles".

"And now they are mine, thank you daddy". Said Jack and hugged his dad.

"I would like to teach you how to play. Let's remember my childhood!"

"I like that too dad, but what about our cleaning?"

"We've found what we need, now we can just throw everything".

"You wanted to find the marbles, that's why we came here?"

"Well yes son, I saw a documentary on TV "How marbles are made", then I remembered that I had somewhere mine marbles."

"Thanks a lot dad. I want to count them first."

"You're welcome my son! Now go count them with your sister, me and mom are going to clean the rest".

"Okay dad, I love you".

"Milly, look what I've got". Jack wanted to show his new toy to his sister.

San kissed his son and together with his wife tried to transform the attic into room. They cleaned the floor and the spider webs. Then they put a carpet, a bed and a little desk with chair, enough for little boy's room.

Milly had to do the decorations and the room was ready for its new owner. But Jack didn't have time for the room now, because he was learning how to play with his father's favorite toy, the marbles. San felt like he's a child again. He kneeled down together with his little son and showed him the secret of winning. While the father and the son were knocking the marbles and making their hands dirty, Suzanne was watching them happily because they played together. It's hard to see these days father and son playing together outside. Jack learned quickly and won against his dad. This was the first time for San to lose, but he was proud of his son who enjoyed playing with the old toy.

" Dad I'll show to all my friends how to play marbles".

"That will be awesome son! I believe they will like it".

"Of course dad, this is so cool".

"Is it better than your video games?"

"It's not better... it's the best dad!"

"I had no doubt. Go now tell your friends about the best toy".