Pass It On
Chapter 7

Dad knocked lightly, before pushing open the door to Michael’s room, also known as the Blue Room or the CAVE (Churchman Avenue Video Emporium).

The dark blue paint and matching carpet made it obvious to anyone why it was known as the Blue Room. The ultimate collection of the latest video game hardware that filled one wall and the shelves full of video games that filled two others, left no doubt as to why it was called the CAVE by every kid in the neighbourhood who was a video game junkie.

A quick check of Michael’s bed said he hadn’t found it yet. A glance over to the command centre of the video games found the master gamer still in his chair, controller in hand and sleeping soundly.

Momma smiled lovingly at her fast growing teen that for that moment almost seemed small enough to hold in her arms. Dad looked around the room and turned to Momma, surprise etched on his face. “Where’s the rest of the rabble? Usually when I walk in here, I have to step over boys like walking through a teen age mine field.”

“I think Robert or one of the other regulars was supposed to spend the night, but then something came up and they didn’t.”

Dad walked over and laid a hand on his son’s shoulder and gave it a gentle shake. “Michael ... get up and go to bed. You hear me?”

Michael stirred in the chair, moaned a little and then got comfortable again.
“Michael! Get up!” This time Dad was a little louder and a little more forceful in his shake.

Michael stirred again, mumbled something about he didn’t have school today and returned to peaceful slumber.

Momma walked over and gently pushed Dad aside. “Here babe ... let me try. I’m an old hand at this.”

Momma rubbed her hands together as she mentally weeded through the many options available to her. Saying dinner was ready normally worked well with Michael. He was teenage boy and that meant he had a bottomless pit for a stomach, but a quick look at Michael’s said it was still full from second and third helpings on Taco Night, so she had to go to plan V ... V for Video.

Leaning over, she showed off by giving Dad a quick wink and then whispered lightly in Michael’s ear. “Michael ... your new video game just came in the mail.”

Michael immediately sat straight up in the chair as if he’d been hit with a bucket of water. His brown eyes went wide and his socked feet shuffled on the carpet as he tried to get up. “Ultimate Death Warrior 4!” He shouted.

“Dude I’ve been waiting six weeks for that game.”

Momma laid a gentle hand on her sleep talking son and sang to him softly. “It’s okay Michael. You can play tomorrow. It’s time for bed now.”

Dad stood in silent amazement as Michael, still somehow very much asleep, stood up, turned possession of the controller over to Momma, walked over to his bed, and then climbed in without delay or protest.

Momma followed Michael to his bed, pulling the cover over him once he’d laid down and then kissed him gently on the forehead. “Good night baby. I love you.”

“Night Mom ... love you too”, he answered as he rolled on one side and snuggled beneath the blanket.

Momma strutted over to Dad, stopping just short of him and pulled out an imaginary six shooter from her imaginary holster. She spun it a few times, took aim at Michael, fired once ... blew the smoke off the barrel and then returned it to the holster.

She shook her head and smiled. “Sometimes it’s so easy it’s just like shooting fish in a barrel.”

Dad scratched his head and still looked dumbfounded by it all. “But how ... how could he not wake up with me shaking him and nearly shouting ... yet you whisper something about a new video game and he’s wide awake?”

“Actually he was never really awake ... although Kay Kay was when she suckered you into giving her a free Daddy Cab ride ... I just told him something he really wanted to hear and he responded.”

Daddy sighed. “I don’t suppose you’d like to share the secret to that?”

Momma slowly walked over to his side and then stretched up on tippy toe to whisper in his ear. “It’s a Momma thing. If I tell you ... I’d have to kill you.”

Dad and threw up his hands in defeat. “Okay ... you win. I guess there’s some things a man’s just not meant to know.”

Momma winked and try to soothe his bruised ego. “That’s okay babe ... I have no complaints about everything you do know.”

Dad’s smile returned as he put an arm round Momma and then gently pushed her toward the door. It was then Mom realized she still had the game controller in her hand. She stopped and turned to place it back on the console when curiosity got the better of her.

“I wonder what game he’s playing tonight.” She asked as she reached for the case that had been turned upside down.

Momma sighed sadly as she turned it over in her hand “I know it’s gotta be one where he’s either fighting or killing something. I just wish he would play something else.”

Dad leaned over to sneak a peek. “Yeah well ... I’d rather have him throwing punches on the computer screen than on the street corner or the ball court. At least then we don’t have to worry about the cops knocking at our door.
”
Momma nodded, “True ... true”, as there was a time that a loud knock on the door or a passing patrol car had made both parents wonder if they were coming to pick up Michael for fighting or Paris for skipping school, but those fears had finally faded away. Paris changing schools and getting involved in the music and drama program had turned her from a truant to an honour roll student, and Michael ... who was never the type of kid who went looking for trouble, but somehow it always seemed to find him, had made a complete turnaround of his own.

His bedroom ... the CAVE, gave him a place to be alone when he needed to be, to have friends over when he wanted company, and all the video villains he could ever want to fight when he wanted to take out a little teenage anger and frustration. His room and all the gaming equipment had given him a place to go, something to do, something to share with his friends and something to be proud of. It had also got him involved in a Friday night gamers club ... which increased his circle of friends and made Mom and Dad rest a little easier at least one night a week knowing that he was safe and sound.

Momma turned the box over to reveal the picture of a God and Goddess standing on a cloud. They were hand in hand and kissing. In the woman’s free hand was a small gold coin.
Dad frowned. “That doesn’t look very violent to me.”

“Me either.” Momma noted the lip lock the Goddess was putting on the God.

Dad read the caption below the picture. “Pass It On ... I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this one. I wonder what you’re supposed to pass on?”

Momma was still staring at the kissing couple. “Tongues ... I’d say”, and then frowned. “I’m not so sure I like the looks of this game ... maybe it was better when he was slaughtering bad guys left and right.”

Dad turned the box back over and read aloud the brief description of the game. “Pass It On ... The game where you find the magic coin and use it to make three wishes, but
remember ... use your wishes wisely and unselfishly. Once you’ve made your wishes pass the coin to the next player. Finding peace, happiness and love ... making things right ... the way they should be ... is the ultimate goal of the game. If each player does this then everyone wins and nobody loses. Good luck.”

Momma’s frown turned upside down as she smiled approvingly. “What a great game! Now this is one I’d like to play ... not that I don’t mind taking out a little frustration now and again by blasting bad guys to bits.”

Momma then picked up her imaginary sword and took a swing. “Or slicing off a few heads now and then ... but it would be nice just to go on a peaceful, fun adventure.”

Dad nodded and looked over at his sleeping son, still in disbelief that he was playing a game without mass destruction or loss of life.

Momma put the box down and picked the controller back up. She teased Dad with a sly smile. “Feel like playing a game? It says no losers ... so you don’t have to worry about getting mad because I beat you.”

She’d thrown down the gauntlet. Normally, Dad would have taken the challenge, grabbed the controller and the game would have been on ... but not tonight. He gently took it from her hand and placed it back on the computer console.

“Maybe tomorrow ... I’ve got another game I’d like to play with you tonight ... and when played right ... there are no losers in this one either.” He tempted her with a wink and a sly smile that told Momma exactly what two-player game Dad was up for.

Momma returned the smile and wink, and then reluctantly released his hand, just long enough to kiss her son one last time and be sure he was tucked in properly ... but knowing full well that by the time they were back down stairs he’d have all the covers kicked off.

Dad turned off the lights behind them as he closed the door. The pair walked silently down the hallway and through the common room ... no doubt some of their thoughts were on the three sleeping children who were home and the one who was not, while the smile on their faces said a few were on the game about to be played downstairs.

To be continued …