Loopy Lou |

Beware, I am about to write about something that, if you are of a certain age (you’ll soon see if you are or not), may send your mind screaming back to days gone by spent having intense paper-based fun. Memories of a fantastic game. Memories of the infamous noughts & crosses!

I don’t think I need explain how the game works, need I? But if I must here it is: you make a grid on paper and then take it in turns drawing noughts and crosses until someone has a line. They win. Easy.

Now, you would think that everyone knows this game, but here’s the horrifying truth–they don’t! On the bus the other day I was playing with myself (playing noughts and crosses with myself, that is; a long and boring journey) and a gang of youths said “hey mister! What are you doing?”

“Playing noughts and crosses of course,” I said, and under my breath, “obviously.”

One of the youths said, “looks rubbish, my game thing is better than that!”

He showed me his game thing and I had to admit that it was better than an age old paper-based game after all.

But I didn’t leave it there. I felt that these youths were missing out, so I started to teach them how to play noughts and crosses. The result? They loved it! The last thing I saw as I stepped off the bus – a real Comedy show – was one of them threatening the other! Now, if that isn’t the hallmark of a noughts and crosses enthusiast, what on earth is?