Chase, the Game.

I hail from a family of five siblings. I rank in as child #3 with two older brothers, they are more rank than I, and a younger brother and sister being less rank. Five kids. Not a huge number of offspring, but enough to create confusion and cast doubt as to blame from broken windows to unwelcome paint and crayons on the walls.

As us kids got older it could sometimes necessitate a larger degree of difficulty for entertainment to keep amused. A game of Strongman worked fine when we were youngsters of twelve and under. This was often played on Grandma and Grandpa Tedesco’s front lawn after Sunday night dinner while waiting for the parents to issue their final good byes.

The game entailed all participants to try to tackle the standing Strongman. Once he was toppled the toppler became Strongman. Repeat process. By the time the teen years hit this was a distant but remembered past time. We had moved on to the likes of Chase.

I don’t know under how many configurations Chase was engaged, but when I participated it always involved a driver, a runner, and a capturer.


1986

Sample scenario: Three Klem brothers lounging around the house on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

“Let’s play chase.” Or simply, “Chase?” would propose one.

Invariably the answer was yes. Youngest Klem boy, usually employed as the runner, would bolt out of the house heading due south toward the 7-11 one mile away [the location had been preset by tradition]. The eldest would get car keys and we would get in the vehicle looking for the runner. When a visual had been made, vehicle would pull near the curb, stop, and the capturer would hop out of the vehicle and tackle the runner. Preferably on grass.

Much guffawing and chuckling ensued. Drive continued to 7/11 where the runner was rewarded for enduring the more strenuous role of Chase. A Slurpee. Make it large.


Fun times.
-klem