Through the years we played so many board games,
All of them with such completely strange sounding names.
There was Life, Pachisi, Chinese Checkers, Stratego and more,
Lots of games we together as a family wanted to explore.

Backgammon, Chess, Yahtzee, Dominoes, Battle Ships and Monopoly,
Where you could always use the card, "Get out of jail free."
There was so much fun the three of us all had,
Just you, me and Dad.

Sometimes playing cards the three of us staying up past one,
But sometimes that is when the fun had just begun.
We never would just let you win or give you the game,
Neither of us felt it was right and we knew you would not feel the same.

So you would struggle and play the games again and again,
Determined you would learn the game and somehow you could win.
Well you did learn the games as we hoped you would,
When victory was yours it felt good to you which it should.

Do you remember the night we all decided to play darts,
A night so special in all our hearts.
Turning over all of the furniture in the living room to hide behind,
So the darts could not so easily it’s target find.

We threw a blanket over the staircase for you to hide,
A night long ago remembered but it still fills us with laughter inside.
The idea was if you were hit with the dart in a vital spot,
You had to declare out loud, “I’ve been shot.”

Oh no, not you, what would you shout instead,
“You missed me Dad, I’m not dead.”
Your Dad would laugh so hard he would hit the floor,
Because he knew his dart had made a score.

We look back now on all these fond memories,
Quality time spent together just us three.
I don’t know how to tell anyone how much fun we all had,
“The Three Musketeers”... Son, Mom & Dad.

© Brenda Sparkman
January 2005