Scrabble scramble

The word, ‘scrabble’, the name of a popular word-game, is also a synonym for ‘scramble’ and a scramble it was when I played the game with my sister every evening. I was possessed by the desire to win every time, fuelled by the fact that English had been my special subject of study. It was a memorable moment for me when I succeeded in playing ‘squeeze’ with both ‘q’ and ‘z’ on a triple-word score. It was a single move that fetched me 126 points. Rarely did my sister emerge the winner, but I noticed that this did not dampen her enthusiasm for the game. Though her vocabulary was not much behind mine, she seemed content to play passively, leaving openings for me and conceding defeat willingly.

It might have continued in this manner had not a friend revealed to me that the game could be played more aggressively. She followed a scrabble dictionary that listed not only two-letter words but also hundreds of uncommon words. I learnt that interjections like ‘ha’ and ‘oh’ were permitted. Words like ‘qi’ and ‘el’ existed and could be used. I found that one way of ensuring a win is to block your opponent’s movement by the use of short words and tightly interlocking words. It was worthwhile too to keep in mind words like ‘squiz’, ‘queasy’ and ‘caziques’.

Armed with my newly-acquired knowledge, I went to my sister. Excitedly I told her of the many new words and manoeuvres that could be used. We could even keep a list of words for quick reference. My unspoken aim, I must confess, was to get ever-nearer the highest known score of 892 points.

My sister heard me out in silence and, after a moment’s thought, said, “What you say is no doubt interesting, but honestly, I don’t play to win. I would much rather have fun. Sometimes, you know, it is good to take things as they come.”

I was quite unprepared for this and it came both as a blow and an eye-opener to me. It was as if a mirror had been held before me. In it, I saw the image of what I was — pushy, restless and driven. I came to realise that all I had been doing was winning a number of battles but losing the war. My vanity reduced to nothing, I was now ready for something new and pleasant.  Summed up in a short three-letter word, it is what is called ‘fun’.