The Game

It's a dull and rainy evening in November. Jarett and Remi Reilly live with their parents in a small neighborhood in Alpharetta, in a house which they just moved into about three months ago. It's a pretty quiet neighborhood and the kids don't think it very special, but Mrs. Reilly says it will get better. They had to move from Chicago because of Mr. Reilly's job.

Jarett has had his driver's license for two weeks now, and Remi has never ridden with him, mainly because she is only seven and sometimes has trouble controlling herself, so it's hard for Jarett to take her places. However, today, while Mr. Reilly works, Mrs. Reilly is in Atlanta for a service project and has asked Jarett to take Remi to her friend's birthday party at a pizza place only a few miles from their house. He agrees and both kids watch from the living room window as their mom backs her car out of the dimly lit driveway. About five minutes later, Jarett starts the car, but Remi remembers she has to get her friend a gift. About five minutes down the road, Jarett pulls the car into the parking lot of Walmart. The kids hop out and Jarett makes Remi promise she will stay with him and not run off. "Sure," Remi replies. "And do you have money for me?" Her big brother holds out a ten.

After about twelve minutes of looking in the girl's clothing section and all the toy and candy aisles, Jarett reminds Remi that she needs to pick something out, or she'll be late to her friend's party. "Look!" Remi exclaims as she rushes over to the board games. Jarett hurries after her and watches her as she grabs Monopoly from the shelf. "I've never played this before," says Remi excitedly. "Can we get it?" "For Bella?" "Her name isn't Bella, it's Bailey. And no, not her. Us!" Jarett thinks for a second but tells his sister that they came only to get something for her friend. "I don't think I have enough money for two things, Remi." Discouraged, Remi sets the game back on the shelf and glances around for something for her friend. Meanwhile, Jarett's eye is caught by an interesting looking board game... The box is gray, and written on the front in bold black letters is "Try Me." He picks up the game on the front of the shelf and, immediately, a few tiny black figures drop from it to the ground below him. He flips it over and is shocked to see a giant hole in the back of the box. Remi turns around and reaches down to pick up the little black characters. "Jarett, look! It looks a little like old Mr. Larry from the neighborhood," Remi exclaims with a giggle. Jarett picks up the other pieces and studies their faces. "Funny little characters," he observes. "Can I keep this one?" Remi asks. "I guess", says Jarett, "considering it's probably missing a bunch of pieces already." Jarett takes one more look at the hole in the back of the box and then sets it back on the shelf. "Let's get going. You don't wanna miss your party."

As Remi takes her friend's game to the cash register, Jarett reaches into his pocket and pulls out the three little black figures he kept from the broken board game. Remi hands her game to the cashier and asks her brother for money to pay. Before he can reach into his pocket for his wallet, Remi notices the figures in his hand and gasps. She grabs the skinniest one and declares, "this is Ms. Molly." Jarett is confused. "What are you talking about, Remi?" Once again, she states confidently, "this is Ms. Molly, my teacher." She grabs another one. "And this is mom!" Jarett grabs it immediately and stares at its face. "I don't see it, Remi. You're silly." Remi gets louder. "No, Jarett! This is mom! Look!" He grabs the change from the cashier, hands his sister her game, and leads her swiftly out of Walmart.

Just as Jarett and gets in the car, he gets a call on his phone. It's Mrs. Reilly. Remi watches her brother's face through the car mirror as he listens intently to the voice on the other side. He sets the phone down into the passenger seat, and Remi asks why he looks upset. "Nothing, Remi. It's okay." She questions him more. "No, you don't look good. What's wrong?" Jarett decides to tell her but doesn't know how to. "Mom just got a call from your school, Remi. Um... well, I..." His gaze doesn't move from the window as he tries to find the words. "Ms. Molly. She, uh... she was in the hospital last night," continues Jarett. "I know," says Remi. "She said she was going to get her knee fixed." "Well..." says Jarett, "this morning, she died." He turned to look at his little sister's face. A mixture of shock and horror overcame her, but she didn't say a word, nor did she cry. As if a strange idea invaded her mind, she slowly reached into her pocket and pulled out the black figures she had with her. The skinny one she declared to have looked like her teacher was now faceless and felt immensely lighter to Remi.

To be continued... (It's way too late)