The game within the game
by Melvin Durai, 2006-04-10


Other columns by Melvin Durai

I asked him and all he said was, "I haven't even looked at your wife." Well, I have looked at my wife. And that's all it took apparently. One look and the next thing I know, she's saying, "Honey, I've got some news."

"What?" I say. "News already? We didn't do anything."

"Oh yes, we did."

"When?"

"The night the electricity went out and you couldn't get the TV to run on batteries. Remember? It was dark and you accidentally ran into me. You said something romantic like 'Let's light some candles.'"

"That's all it took? That was hardly anything."

"Well, after you lit the candles, you said, 'Let me get some oil from the kitchen.' And I thought, 'Naughty, naughty.' I lay on the couch in anticipation. A minute later, you returned to the living room and tried to get the TV to run on olive oil."

"There was a football game on TV. I was desperate for some action."

"Tell me about it. I tried to get your attention, whispering into your ear, 'Honey, the kids are both fast asleep.' And you said, 'Great! We can have a good time, just you and me and the Seahawks. As soon as I get the TV started.'"

"I really thought I could get the TV to work. I didn't realize how hard it is to get something turned on."

"Tell me about it. I went to the bedroom and put on some silk lingerie. When I returned, you looked at me and said, 'Absolutely stunning. A power outage in a developed country.'"

"Well, I couldn't believe it. There was no electricity whatsoever."

"Tell me about it. I rubbed your shoulders and said, 'Why don't we generate some electricity of our own?' And you said, 'Good idea, honey. Perhaps I can hook the TV to the exercise bike.'"

"I needed to do something fast. The game had already started and I knew the Seahawks must have scored a touchdown on the Eagles. It's so easy to score when there's no resistance."

"Tell me about it. I ran my fingers through your hair and said, 'I thought you might like to, you know, score a touchdown yourself.' And you said, 'Sure, honey. We'll do it tomorrow. Perhaps we can invite a few of the guys.'"

"Well, it's more fun to play in a group. Besides, you need a good field to play football. I love football fields."

"Tell me about it. I went to the kids' room, got some of their paints and put lines and numbers across my body like a football field. And soon, like the Seahawks, you were driving down the field toward the end zone. You looked so pleased when I screamed, 'Touchdown!'"

"Well, it was so easy with all those markers. I especially liked the arrow. But it all happened so fast."

"Tell me about it. You said you wanted to go to a sports bar to watch the rest of the game. While you were getting ready, I snuck to the main power switch and flipped it back on. You were so excited when the TV came on. You shouted, 'Look, honey. I didn't miss anything. The coach called a timeout!'"

"You had turned the power off? I wondered why the neighbors had lights. Where did you get the idea of doing that?"

"I read it in that women's magazine I got in the mail."

"In the mail? I knew the mailman had something to do with this. Wait till I get my hands on him."

Melvin Durai is a U.S.-based, India-born writer and humorist whose weekly humor columns entertain thousands of people in more than 90 countries.

Other columns by Melvin Durai

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