Last night, eight-year-old Anton and I wandered over to our neighborhood Italian spot for dinner.
We ordered salads and pasta and fizzy water (“It’s spicy!” he said). While waiting for the food to arrive, he got a little wriggly in his seat, and I suddenly had an idea.
“Have you ever played M.A.S.H.?”
No, he said.
I explained the rules of the fortune-telling game that I had been obsessed with in middle school (wasn’t everyone?):
M.A.S.H. (Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House)
Imagining your future, you list out four things in different categories (for example, four possible spouses, four possible jobs, four possible pets), and then choose a number between 5 and 10. Then you count that number (say, 6) down the list and cross out every word you land on (so, every sixth word); until you get to your final answers. Boom! That’s your future.
Turns out that Anton will be a menswear designer in Hollywood with three children. “My fashion company is going to be really fancy,” he told me. “And I already have the best name.” He paused for emphasis. “Lance.”
The next morning, we played with Toby, who is going to be an athlete in Dallas with 78 kids!!!
Did you play M.A.S.H. while growing up? Have you played with the kids in your life? It’s a hilarious way to spend an evening. And if you’re in the mood to play this very second, here’s an online version.
P.S. Four games to play while lying down, and Toby’s very grown-up date.