50 Years of Queen Celebration

Everybody Play The Game...

 A fictional tale of a band's life and a game well played.   FYI - this is fiction and only my imaginings of times and games that might have taken place.   I hope to write some more games for a future chapter. Enjoy!

1971

"So what do you like to do when you hang out?"  John asked the others as they enjoyed some drinks at the Kensington.  It was after one of their first rehearsals and the band members were trying to get to know each other.  Well, John was trying to get to know the tight threesome next to him.  It was obvious they had a history already.  Especially Brian and Roger.  He felt like an outsider at times as he observed their inside jokes and intimate banter.  He was eager to find some common ground with them outside of playing rock and roll.

"We like to hang out here a bit..."  Brian answered.  "It's our regular..."  he remarked to advise him this was the main pub for Queen.  Freddie and Roger nodded agreement.

"When we've got a bit of time...we like to play games..."  Freddie offered.  John was intrigued.

"Oh yeah?  What kind of games?"  he asked.

The next night

The board was unfolded and the four wooden racks were placed in front of each player.  Roger had picked the earliest letter in the alphabet so he was going first.  He drew his seven tiles from the overturned wooden pieces and placed them face up on the rack.  John watched the others for a moment as he saw them doing the same.  The blond began by playing down his starting word - FIRE.     "Four points!"   Brian scribbled down his score.

"Oh!"  Freddie exclaimed quickly as he saw the letters available to him for his turn.  John sipped his drink as he observed the lead singer smile widely and proceed to play his own tiles down on the board.  He presented the word -  RENDER .     "I had a triple letter so that's nine!"  he exclaimed as Brian noted the score.

John took a look at his letters and grinned.  He had not really glanced at them since he was keen to observe the others.  He picked up the selected tiles and formed a smug expression as he placed them on the board.  It was the perfect thing to put down. He ignored their surprised faces as he counted his score.   "That's a triple letter so the total is 34..."  he remarked casually.  

"I don't fucking believe it!"  Roger said with disbelief as Brian wrote down his score with an impressed expression and Freddie leaned over and nudged their new bassist in the side.

"Impressive darling!"  he told him and smiled at the band of players.  "I think we've found our match!"  he said as they all looked down at the board and smiled.   John's first word was QUEEN.   It was a solid start.

1974

"How many times do you think we've played this game?"  Roger questioned as they sat in the activity room at King's College Hospital.  Everyone shrugged.  Unsure of the number.

"Not nearly enough..."  Freddie replied as he picked up his tiles to lay on the board.  "I plan to play as often as Brian wants to while he's in here..."  he said warmly as he smiled at the guitarist.  Freddie was grateful he was alive.  Grateful he was recovering.  It had been a scary moment for the band when Brian fell gravely ill in Boston and they had to abandon their first American tour and shepherd him home.  It had been a few weeks of no visitors and the band getting vaccinated as a precaution from Brian's hepatitis diagnosis and then waiting to see their friend.  Now Brian had recovered enough to spend some time sitting up in the patient's activity room.  They knew just the thing to do while they visited.