Love Tides | ✓

nine | savvy

καταλαβαίνω

[ savvy ]

☆ ☆ ☆

"So, to start the game, each player rolls a single die and the player with the higher number moves first using both numbers rolled. If both players roll the same number, the dice are rolled again until they roll different numbers. The players then alternate turns, rolling two dice at the beginning of each turn. The dice must always be rolled together and land flat on the right hand side of the game board. If it lands outside or on a checker the dice must be rolled again. Get it?"

Avery's forehead creased. "Mildly."

"Come on, it's not that hard!" Penelope whined, signaling at the backgammon game set—the pieces all nicely organized as they sat still in front of him.

"Fine, yeah, how do you move though?" Avery asked, eying the wooden game board, physically flinching at each of her instructions. He really didn't want to play.

"The dice roll determines how many points the player is supposed to move its checker. The checker always moves forward following the horseshoe path towards the player's home board. A point that is not occupied by two or more opposing checkers is an open point. When moving a checker it may land only on an open point," Penelope explained, her fingers signaling each one of her individual instructions. "The two dice constitute two separate movements. For example, if a player rolls a 6 and a 4, he may move one checker 6 spaces to an open point and another checker 4 spaces to an open point. The player may also choose to move the same checker twice, as long as each move is on to an open point."

"Do you understand now?" Penelope asked, variously peering back and forth between the board game and Avery.

Avery gulped unsuredly, still, completely confused. "Yeah, yeah. Totally."

"Great!" Penelope clapped her hands together in excitement as she looked at Okeania—she was an old woman, with white-like hair, bohemian clothing, an itchy Greek accent and an immense love for gossiping. "You ready?"

"Φυσικά," Okeania said, staring at Avery with an unnerving smirk.

"Alright," Penelope smiled, "Let's get on to it-"

"Wait," Avery hurriedly interrupted, "she's going easy on me right?"

Penelope looked at Okeania. "You're going easy on him, right?"

"Οχι," Okeania tapped the table impatiently.

"Uh," Penelope gritted her teeth, unsure as she looked at Avery from the corner of her eyes with blushed cheeks. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. She's totally going easy on you."

"Now," she continued, "ready?"

"Ναι," Okeania answered, rubbing her hands together in excitement.

Avery's face fell. "Yes."

***

It had been only twelve rounds out of fifteen, and Avery hadn't won a single one. Not only was he confused about the gaming methods, but he also felt excruciatingly inferior to Okeania. It wouldn't be surprising to call the old woman a master—quote on quote, by Penelope, "Okeania was a gossiping lady who only plays backgammon, drinks Ouzo—a type of liquor—and gossips around with her sister Agapy and with Cordelia's daughter, Hera.

Okeania held her hands together above her shoulder, from shoulder to shoulder, she hung them around in victory. Repeatedly chanting celebratory squeals and phrases.