Poem: "A New Twist"
Jul. 20th, 2025 04:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis poem was written for the Sunshine Revival Challenge 6: Game Night. It also fills the "Dodge" square in my 7-1-25 card for the Western Bingo Fest. It belongs to the series Love Is For Children.
"A New Twist"
"We're up to 1966 in our quest
to play the most popular games
that Steve and Bucky have missed,
so today we're going to play Twister,"
Uncle Phil said, presenting the box.
Steve picked up the box and
shook it gently. "Doesn't rattle,"
he said. "Not many pieces?"
"I think there's two," said Tony.
"It's just the mat and a spinner."
"Like a placemat?" said Bucky.
"No, a floor mat," said Betty.
"It's fun, as long as you don't
play it with handsy jerks."
"Yeah, or people who
cheat and knock you
down," Bruce added.
"There will no manhandling
of other players," said Uncle Phil.
"Keep your hands to yourselves
or on the playing mat, please."
Steve opened the box and
carefully took out the pieces.
Clint and Natka opened the mat
and spread it out on the floor.
"See, the spinner's clever --
it shows you what color and
what body part to put on it,
at the same time," said Tony.
"Two to four players, so let's
start with Steve and Bucky plus
Clint and Natka," said Uncle Phil.
It was a hilarious disaster.
Steve was so big that after
a few moves, he could hardly
fit between the other players.
Bucky's dexerity was limited
by his various war injuries.
Clint didn't like getting trapped
between the other players.
Natka was so flexible that
she might as well not even
have bones, but she was
also so much smaller than
the others that she had
a hard time reaching spots.
The next round swapped in
Bruce and Tony, which worked
only a little bit better than before
as they dodged around each other.
This time the whole pile collapsed
and they couldn't even guess who won.
"Not sure this is the best game for us,"
said Steve. "It's fun, but kinda imbalanced."
"Maybe it'll work better with a different mix
of players," said Betty. "How about me
and Bruce against Clint and Natka?"
The closer match of sizes made it
somewhat easier, until Natka wound
herself so thoroughly around the rest
that they struggled to untangle after.
"There are Twister variations,"
Uncle Phil offered. "I've seen one
with separate dots to stick around
on wall and furniture and such."
"We could totally play that on
the obstacle course," said Clint.
"Regarding the difficulty of identifying
a winner, I could assist with a new mat
filled with sensors," JARVIS offered.
Tony and Bruce looked at each other.
"Lab time!" they chorused, scrambling up.
"Put your big selves back on before
you to the lab," Uncle Phil insisted.
They were already heading for
where they'd left their clothes,
fingers unfastening zips and
buttons on their pajamas.
"Well, it was fun while
it lasted," said Steve.
"I'm not going to the lab,"
said Natka. "Why don't we
go make some colored dots
to stick on the obstacle course?"
"Oh, you are on," said Bucky.
Despite the challenges, Uncle Phil
mentally marked Twister a success.
It certainly put a new twist on Game Night.
* * *
Notes:
Twister was the most popular game of 1966. The Avengers have been helping Steve and Bucky catch up on games and other things they missed.
"A New Twist"
"We're up to 1966 in our quest
to play the most popular games
that Steve and Bucky have missed,
so today we're going to play Twister,"
Uncle Phil said, presenting the box.
Steve picked up the box and
shook it gently. "Doesn't rattle,"
he said. "Not many pieces?"
"I think there's two," said Tony.
"It's just the mat and a spinner."
"Like a placemat?" said Bucky.
"No, a floor mat," said Betty.
"It's fun, as long as you don't
play it with handsy jerks."
"Yeah, or people who
cheat and knock you
down," Bruce added.
"There will no manhandling
of other players," said Uncle Phil.
"Keep your hands to yourselves
or on the playing mat, please."
Steve opened the box and
carefully took out the pieces.
Clint and Natka opened the mat
and spread it out on the floor.
"See, the spinner's clever --
it shows you what color and
what body part to put on it,
at the same time," said Tony.
"Two to four players, so let's
start with Steve and Bucky plus
Clint and Natka," said Uncle Phil.
It was a hilarious disaster.
Steve was so big that after
a few moves, he could hardly
fit between the other players.
Bucky's dexerity was limited
by his various war injuries.
Clint didn't like getting trapped
between the other players.
Natka was so flexible that
she might as well not even
have bones, but she was
also so much smaller than
the others that she had
a hard time reaching spots.
The next round swapped in
Bruce and Tony, which worked
only a little bit better than before
as they dodged around each other.
This time the whole pile collapsed
and they couldn't even guess who won.
"Not sure this is the best game for us,"
said Steve. "It's fun, but kinda imbalanced."
"Maybe it'll work better with a different mix
of players," said Betty. "How about me
and Bruce against Clint and Natka?"
The closer match of sizes made it
somewhat easier, until Natka wound
herself so thoroughly around the rest
that they struggled to untangle after.
"There are Twister variations,"
Uncle Phil offered. "I've seen one
with separate dots to stick around
on wall and furniture and such."
"We could totally play that on
the obstacle course," said Clint.
"Regarding the difficulty of identifying
a winner, I could assist with a new mat
filled with sensors," JARVIS offered.
Tony and Bruce looked at each other.
"Lab time!" they chorused, scrambling up.
"Put your big selves back on before
you to the lab," Uncle Phil insisted.
They were already heading for
where they'd left their clothes,
fingers unfastening zips and
buttons on their pajamas.
"Well, it was fun while
it lasted," said Steve.
"I'm not going to the lab,"
said Natka. "Why don't we
go make some colored dots
to stick on the obstacle course?"
"Oh, you are on," said Bucky.
Despite the challenges, Uncle Phil
mentally marked Twister a success.
It certainly put a new twist on Game Night.
* * *
Notes:
Twister was the most popular game of 1966. The Avengers have been helping Steve and Bucky catch up on games and other things they missed.
(no subject)
Date: 2025-07-20 11:44 pm (UTC)Yes ...
Date: 2025-07-21 01:35 am (UTC)