The Shrieking Shack

When Nannie came for Thanksgiving this year, she brought with her the memory of a game, pulled out of the attic of her mind, dusted off, and passed on to her grandchildren.

Has anyone noticed that the things that grandparents bring to cause the grandchildren joy are often the things that are the most painful to parents?

Evidence for the prosecution:

Exhibit A
The game "No bears are out tonight"

The game starts with two people being "it". They are positioned in the front yard. The others playing the game, or coerced into joining through accusations of poor parenting, are in the back. They are expected to frolic around the back yard screa - er - I mean, singing the following occult chant:

No bears are out tonight, Daddy killed them all last night, no bears are out tonight, Daddy killed them all last night...

Until the two bears "sneak" around the yard and tackle (bear hug) two others, who become the bears.

It is simply tag, with additional embarrassment as the neighbors look out their windows and worry about the crazies next door.



Wait for iiiittttttttttttttttttt. (Notice the psychotic stance and glare of Tim?)



Richard gets mugged/hugged. Ami shrieks in delight running from nothing since the two bears are in the process of mauling Richard. Other siblings watch in embarrassment as blinds around the block slowly close.



Susanna proves that she is more like her father each day. In this picture she logically observes the game, determines its level of quality, and makes her decision (to leave).

Exhibit B:

They bought us a drum set.

The prosecution rests.