Stalemate between two 10 year olds.

I recently had the honor of taking charge of my nieces and nephew for a week. This involved dropping picking them up from school and doing homework on a regular basis. My 10 year old niece is Sidney, 6 year old niece named Joan and 3 year old nephew called Darrel.  It was an interesting experience mixed with its own challenges such as reviewing SST homework on Mt. Nur and pillars Islam to Lowest Common Multiples the famous LCM that we all once learnt as I earlier mentioned. However, there was this time while home with them after homework when their friends came over to play for an hour before dinner.

It was a typical evening of watching some cartoons as the socialized and I must admit I had zoned out to a classic episode of Tom & Jerry but for this conversation. Mable is my oldest niece Sidney’s playmate and classmates of Kampala Parents and both of them had midyear exams that day. Check out how children of these days dual over academics I do not remember it being this hairy in our day.

Mable: “How was the exam?” she asked mockingly.

Sidney: “It was simple,” she retorted as she shook her head and crossed her arms.

Mable: “What are you getting in Math?”

Sidney: “94% and above of course, let’s put money where our mouths are.”

Mable: “I am not scared.”

Sidney: “Of course you are.”

Mable: “I bet you 5 million,” she yelled as she stormed out of the house as if for better effect.”

Sidney: “Bring it on,” said my niece as she stomped her feet.

I could not help but laugh at how much things had changed since we were young. In our day and time we would be betting on our break money of 200 shillings or the 2 buttered slices of bread for break. Now here were these 10 year old's betting 5 million shilling which neither of them even had so I waited to see how this would pan out in the coming week. But I guess I gave these little ones too much credit because less than 2 minutes after this stance, Mable came back waltzing in with a chit in her hand as she stood at the door.

Mable: “Here is the 5 million, it’s on the table,” she said as she threw the irregularly cut piece of paper with 5 million written on it in blue pen ink.

Sidney: “This is not money, it is a piece of paper!” she shouted as she turned in the direction of doorway where Mable once stood only seconds before.

Only now she was half way home since she had taken off for s she was in no way going to honor the bet and Sidney hotly pursued her to no avail only to come back sulking. This scene reminded me of those mafia movies that had been adapted to suit these 10 year old's need. I figured it must be owing to the change in times or watching too much television DSTV - to be exact. 

Well whichever way you look at it, kids in this present day and age are growing up way too fast.