Despite the collective handicap, everyone diligently worked towards a common goal and the game took shape. One more trip to the dollar store for more handles and some foam to protect the sharp edges of the chain-link fence, and we finished the game in the late afternoon.
We had to restrain ourselves from playing the game before it was finished -- all the colors, balls and sticks were so enticing to us stupid trippers. When we finally started playing we weren't even clear on the official rules, so we started making up our own. We decided that you can only pull a stick that is touching a ball -- but that was the only solid rule. All other rules are up for interpretation of the players.
Unlike the original game that uses marbles, we used inflatable beach balls, plastic softballs, plastic pigs, small balls and nerf footballs -- all of which act quite a bit different than marbles. You could pull out a stick and nothing would happen right away -- the mass of balls would ooze and slowly settle -- sometimes a ball fell out. Sometimes a pig fell out. Sometimes are large pile of balls cascaded out. Overall, it is mucho unpredictable.
At one point someone pulled a stick out and nothing happened -- for quite a while. Then things started oozing, and a single pig fell out. Someone shouted: "Delayed pig!" -- and everyone fell over laughing. In an instant we named our game!
We played a number of games with everyone gathered around the game and paying close attention to the stack of balls. Each movement of the balls was accompanied by shouts, hoots and hollers as balls settled, oozed and fell out. No doubt about it -- this game it going to be fun on the playa!
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