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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, 2000
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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Bugbear wants to thank SCREAMDESIGN
for the great background! He is sure you'll enjoy visiting their site. |
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Troll Characters and Stories
Copyright ©Helena, Minna & Johannes Kuuskoski 1952-2005 |
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