9/11/10

A Little Risk
By Johanna Colbath


The room was full, and not one seat was left unoccupied. Everyone’s eyes were fixed

on the game below. There were yellow, green, red, black, and blue plastic men scattered

on the board, each representing the army of a different nation. I found myself trying to pay

attention as James conquered Spain and was advancing towards my property, but my mind

just couldn’t settle in one place. She was sitting there, right across the table from me.

Her army was small and standing right in the way of my conquest. I kept repeating to

the guys, “There are no emotions in this game—no sensitivities, no mercy. It’s a game, and

you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.” My appeal to the nations started, because Steve kept

saying that he felt bad for his attempt to wipe players off the board. But maybe, just maybe, I

was reminding myself. I hadn’t even bothered with her countries, and honestly, I was hoping

somebody else would take care of it. She was new to the game, and though she picked it up

quickly, there’s a book full of technique that she hadn’t yet mastered. Inevitably, she was

going to be defeated at some point, but I wasn’t going to be the one to do it.

After a few rounds, I sighed when James finally lifted the duty from my shoulders.

She didn’t care in the least that her role in the game was over. The laughs and conversation

continued as I noticed the small goose-bumps rise all over her arms. I offered her my jacket

and was pleased that she readily took it.

As the prizes of land began to hold more worth for the remaining nations, each round

grew uncomfortably long. She made her way to the fire that my mother lit earlier, and as my

eyes followed her, somehow I knew that I wouldn’t conquer the world that night.


- - -
I am a senior in the creative writing concentration, literature major at Ramapo College. Publishing is my current goal. I hope you enjoy this piece. Thank you