revenge of the adj. n.

Last night I hung out with my little (20-year-old) sister for the first time in a while (she’s pretty popular). We decided that we would hang out without having first decided what we would do, so I let my mind wander back to the distant past, to conjure a fun activity…

As a blossoming Canadian youth, evenings in the homeland were often cold and desolate. Wanting to get out of the house without wanting to be out in the chilly night air sometimes led us to improvise games in local retailers’ establishments. The best of these was the Real Canadian Superstore Game (named after ‘the Real Canadian Superstore’ department store).

So, with some modification (we had to settle for Wal-mart instead of the RCS), that is what we did. It is actually still fun after all these years.

For those interested in playing, please see the rules of engagement below:

• Split into at least two teams. It’s easiest to work in pairs, but if there are only two of you, you have no choice.
• Each team must get a shopping cart.
• Beginning from a central, predetermined point, the teams split up and spend 10 minutes wandering the store putting whatever they like into their carts until they have 10 items.
• After 10 minutes, the teams reconvene and switch carts.
• Now the race begins. The first team to return all the items to the correct spot without asking for help from employees and other shoppers wins.
• Meet back at your starting point to gloat.