Jeremy and Ruthie were playing in the basement while I was in the kitchen making lunch.  Then I heard the familiar distant cry, which gradually became louder as Ruthie walked into the kitchen.  This is a somewhat frequent occurrence, so I calmly consoled her and asked her why she was crying.

She could hardly pull herself together to answer, but when she finally did, her response was not what I expected.  She sobbed, “Jeremy and I were playing football, and we lost.”  What?  No tattling on Jeremy?  Are you sure he didn’t push you or say something you didn’t like?  They were the only ones in the basement, and they were on the same team.  Which means that they were defeated by an imaginary competitor.

I tried not to chuckle.  Jeremy entered the kitchen and described the play that cost them the game.  Ruthie went the wrong direction for the pass, Jeremy got sacked, and they lost.  Even when you’re imagining your opponent, losing is never fun.

Thankfully, mac and cheese was on the menu, so the sting of losing was quickly removed.