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LET'S PLAY 12 STICKS ON THE BOARD
(ALSO KNOWN AS BUGBEAR STICKS)
Story and Pictures by the Family Kuuskoski
Copyright� Helena, Minna and Johannes Kuuskoski 1952-2005
This is a very popular game played by the little Trolls in Trolldom. We used to play it as we were growing up in Finland. We would round up 6-10 of our friends and then we'd play for hours, until nobody could run anymore. (For really small kids, the game is more fun if an adult does the searching.) If you play it, let us know how you like it!
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Some of the Troll Children had asked Bugbear to play their favorite game, 'BUGBEAR STICKS' with them. "I think I have everything we need", Bugbear mumbled to himself. "I've got a board, and a log, and these 12 sticks. I better count them one more time to make sure there are enough..". |
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"Hi, everybody", Bugbear greeted his friends. "I'm so excited!" said Sumppi boy, Timmy. "Me, too" said his sister, Linnie. "I don't remember how to play this", said one of the Mushroom kids. "I remember everything!" said Noppa girl. "Don't worry", said Bugbear. "First we choose the person who will scatter the sticks. Eenie meenie, minie, moe..." |
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Timmy was the lucky one. He jumped on one end of the board and the sticks scattered all over the place. "Run and hide, quick!" Timmy hollered, and took off running fast. Bugbear grinned and said "I'll gather these sticks in no time and then, I'm going to find you ALL! And I'm going to capture you all! You better hide well..." |
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The little Trolls quickly ran to hide behind trees, rocks and bushes. "I better get these on the board quickly so I can go find everybody" Bugbear talked to himself. In this game, the way you capture your opponents is to spot one (or more) and then run as fast as you can to the board and declare them captured. If the opponent gets there first, they will step on the board and scatter the sticks, and ...well, you just start over. |
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"Alright everybody! I'm ready and I'm coming to get you!" Bugbear said as he looked around. He couldn't see anybody. He had to find all the Trolls and capture them, hoping none of them would get to the board before he did. You see, if the opponent steps on the board, of course all the sticks will scatter again but also any captured players will be released! |
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Bugbear had managed to capture Noppa girl and Joey the Mushroom. But Poppa Boy was fast. "Hey, how can you run so fast!" hollered Bugbear, grinning widely. "I'm faster than you are!" Poppa teased. "And I'm going to step on the board!" Bugbear tried to run faster, but sometimes you just can't. |
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Poppa Boy pounced on the board and the sticks flew all over. The captured Trolls took off to hide and Bugbear started collecting the sticks again. They played for a long time, and eventually Bugbear captured them all. Then the little Trolls said: "Let's play again! Bugbear - you do the searching again!" |
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Afterwards, they went to Bugbear's house in Bugbear Bush. "I bet you are all hungry" Bugbear said. He was prepared for this. Everybody ate lots of sandwiches and cookies. "This was so much fun, Bugbear" said Noppa Girl. "Yes, can we play again tomorrow? Please, please!" the others asked. " |
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