Sore Loser

Tonight, the family was playing Snakes and Ladders. Layth held up his red piece like a trophy. "I'm going to win this time," he announced. Layan didn't even look up. "You said that last time."

Layth's red piece climbed two ladders in a row. "Look where I am," he said. "Look at everyone else. Now look at me.""The game isn't over," Layan reminded him. Layth grinned. "I'm basically already winning."

Then Layth landed on a snake. A long one. His red piece slid all the way down. "…That snake is too long," he whispered. "That's the game, habibi," said Baba.

A few rounds passed. Layth's piece was still near the bottom. Then Layan rolled and her piece climbed a ladder, close to the finish. "Oh! A ladder," she said.

Layth shook his head. "You counted wrong," he said. "I counted five squares," Layan replied. "I rolled a five.""You went too fast," Layth said. "I didn't see properly."

Layth's frown deepened. "How do we even know the dice isn't broken?""It isn't broken," said Baba. "How do you KNOW?" Baba picked up the dice. He examined it. He set it back down. "It's not broken."

Layth picked up the dice. He rolled. A one. He moved his piece one square and put the dice down. He didn't say a word.

Layan rolled a four. Her yellow piece reached the finish. "Oh — I won!" she said. "Mabrook, Layan!" said Mama. "Well played," said Baba. Layth stared at the board.

Layth stood up. "It's not a fair game," he said. "The snakes are all in my squares. Nobody else gets snakes.""I got three snakes, Layth," said Layan. "I'm not playing."

Then Layth flipped the board. Pieces flew. The dice bounced. The board landed upside down. Silence.

Baba spoke very quietly. "Layth." Layth walked to his room. The door did not slam. "He'll come back," Layan said softly.

Layth went straight to his room. In the corner sat his tent. He crawled inside. The zipper began to glow.

Layth crawled out and arrived at the Treehouse. Sir Jad was juggling acorns. He took one look at Layth's face — and dropped them. "What happened?"

"I flipped the board," Layth said. "...How bad are we talking?" asked Sir Jad. "Pieces everywhere. Dice on the floor. Board under the coffee table." Sir Jad winced. "That's a big flip."