Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

The Pinecone | May 2026 • 9 • Carrie, Gary, and Trey decided to play marbles one warm fall day in Gary’s backyard. Trey had brought a lengthy string to make the necessary circle about three ft. diameter. Each of the three chil- dren had brought their prized shooter (a slightly larger marble) as well as a small bag of marbles previously won. The boys were certain that they could easily win a game over Carrie. Afterall, she was a girl. Their folks called this game Peaceful Play as there was no physical wrestling between any of the players that would get them in trouble. “OK Trey, make that string into a circle,” Gary directed. “Did you both bring your favorite shooters?” I’ll place the 13 mibs (small marbles) in a circle to begin,” Gary stated as he placed the mibs in a cross shape at the center of the circle. Gary and Carrie would be playing the first game. The winner of that game would play Trey. Carrie, the first shooter, placed her shooter in her hand with her thumb behind the shooter. Then, she shot it! She hoped to knock one mib out of the ring but retain the shooter to stay inside the ring. Then, she could take another shot. “She did it,” Gary moaned. Carrie picked up the mib shot out, placing in her pile of marbles. She scrambled to the other side of the ring to make another shot. She had to remember to place her hand, thus thumb, outside the circle. With a determined look on her face, repeated her shot posi- tion. Trey looked in awe of her technique. Clearly, she had been practicing playing marbles. Gary looked troubled. A girl wasn’t supposed to be this good! Perhaps she would miss this time . . . what do you think happened? “Oh no, another shot, . . . another . . . and another. Gary hadn’t even started his turn yet. So many marbles shot outside the circle, with her taking one turn after another. His turn would only occur (1) if she shot a mib out of the circle, and her shooter also went out too, (2) if she would strike a mib, but does not knock it out of the ring, and her shooter stays inside the ring, (3) she would strike a mib but did not knock it out of the ring, but her shooter leaves the ring. Then Carries’ turn would be OVER! Each time Gary was hopeful that both Carries’ shooter and the selected mib would STAY in the circle. Then, when Gary played he would have the choice of knocking Carrie’s shooter out of the circle. If he is successful in knocking Carries shooter out of the ring, he can collect ALL the mibs she has gathered since the game started. Carrie lined he shooter on a mib again. “There she it goes. . . come on!” Gary and Trey shouted. Both the targeted marble and her special shooter stay in the ring. Hurrah the two boys were ecstatic! Delighted, Gary says, “It’s my turn Carrie . . . now you will see what I will do to your shooter.” Gary properly positions his thumb, aiming his shooter at Carries shooter rather than a mib. Gary’s shooter hit Carrie’s shooter, but it doesn’t go out of the circle. He doesn’t get ALL of Carrie’s marbles from the game. The game continues. The three are engaged in the playing of this fun game, until the winner of the game between Gary and Carrie plays the other nine-year-old boy. Back and forth, the marbles are shot. Carrie wins the first game collecting the most mibs. She also wins the game with Trey, collecting even more marbles. Girls can win, even at marbles in 1939. TOPIC OF THEMONTH: Choose a picture and write a story about it. The picture chosen was this cover of The Saturday Evening Post, “Marble Champion”. Poetry &Writing Club COME JOIN THE CLUB Monday, May 4th at 9:30 am in the LCR PEACEFUL PLAY, MARBLES Story by Sheryl Maxwell Sheryl Maxwell