Sore Loser

Tonight, the family was playing Snakes and Ladders. Layth held up his red piece like a trophy. "I'm going to win this time," he announced. Layan didn't even look up. "You said that last time."

Layth's red piece climbed two ladders in a row. "Look where I am," he said. "Look at everyone else. Now look at me." "The game isn't over," Layan reminded him. "I'm basically already winning," Layth gloated, with a grin on his face.

Then Layth landed on a snake. A long one. His red piece slid all the way down. "…That snake is too long," he whispered. "That's the game, habibi," said Baba.

A few rounds passed. Layth's piece was still near the bottom. Then Layan rolled and her piece climbed a ladder, close to the finish. "Oh! A ladder," she said.

Layth shook his head. "You counted wrong," he said. "I counted five squares," Layan replied. "I rolled a five.""You went too fast," Layth said. "I didn't see properly."

Layth's frown deepened. "How do we even know the dice isn't broken?""It isn't broken," said Baba. "How do you KNOW?" Baba picked up the dice. He examined it. He set it back down. "It's not broken."

Layth picked up the dice. He rolled. A one. He moved his piece one square and put it down. He didn't say a word.

Layan rolled a four. Her yellow piece reached the finish. "Oh — I won!" she said. "Mabrook, Layan!" said Mama. "Well played," said Baba. Layth stared at the board.

Layth stood up. "It's not a fair game," he said. "The snakes are all in my squares. Nobody else gets snakes.”

"I got three snakes, Layth," said Layan.

"I'm not playing,” Layth said angrily.

Then Layth flipped the board. Pieces flew. The dice bounced. The board landed upside down. Silence.

Baba spoke very quietly. "Layth." Layth walked to his room. The door did not slam.

"He'll come back," Layan said softly.

Layth went straight to his room. In the corner sat his tent. He crawled inside. The zipper began to glow.

Layth crawled out and arrived at the Treehouse. Sir Jad was juggling acorns. He took one look at Layth's face — and dropped them. "What happened?"

"I flipped the board," Layth said. "...How bad are we talking?" asked Sir Jad. "Pieces everywhere. Dice on the floor. Board under the coffee table." Sir Jad winced. "That's a big flip."

Sir Jad cleared his throat. "Right, well — before Sofia says anything — I want it on the record that Snakes and Ladders is a deeply unfair game and I fully …"

"Sir Jad," Sofia interjected, cutting him off.

He huffed and rolled his eyes. "...Fine. I'll be quiet."

Sofia sat down in front of Layth. "Were the snakes only in your squares?""No. Layan got three snakes.""Was the dice broken?""No. Baba checked.""Did Layan count wrong?""...No."

"So the game was fair," Sofia said. Layth was quiet for a long moment. "Layth. Do you know what a sore loser is?"

He looked ashamed and said, "someone who's bad at losing."

Sofia adjusted her glasses. "A sore loser," she said gently, "is someone who can only enjoy a game if they win." Layth listened, his eyes still on his hands. "Which means they're not really playing for the fun of it. They're playing for themselves." She paused. "And when it doesn't go their way, they make sure nobody else enjoys it either."

Sir Jad cleared his throat, suddenly serious. "You did flip the board, little guy."

"I know," Layth said.

"In front of your whole family,” Sir Jad added.

“"I know," Layth mumbled.

"Baba's piece was probably still on it," Sir Jad continued.

Layth sighed. "I know, Sir Jad. I get it."

Kitkat rarely spoke. When she did, the others listened. "The Prophet, peace be upon him, said that the strong person is not the one who wins the fight. The strong person is the one who controls themselves when they are angry."

Layth blinked at her. "KitKat — you said a whole thing."

"I was doing their job," she said with a sleepy smile.

Sofia adjusted her glasses. "A good Muslim plays with grace," she said gently. "That's character. Not weakness."

Layth let out a slow breath. "I have to say sorry, don't I," he said.

Yes," Sofia answered.

He looked down. "Even Baba?"

"Especially Baba."

Layth stood up.

At the tent, Sir Jad couldn't resist. "For what it's worth — you were robbed by at least two snakes."

"Thank you, Sir Jad," Layth said.

"You couldn't help yourself," Sofia said.

Sir Jad shrugged. "There's more where that came from."

Layth crawled back through the tent. The family was waiting.

Layth walked into the family room and took a deep breath. "I said the dice was broken when it wasn't. I said Layan counted wrong when she didn't. And I flipped the board, which was... really bad. I'm sorry."

Baba nodded slowly.

"That took courage, habibi." Mama opened her arms. "Come here."

"Rematch?" Layan asked. "Rematch," Layth said. He rolled a three and moved his piece. Two rounds later — another snake. Layth watched his piece slide down. He picked up the dice and rolled again. Layan caught his eye and gave him the smallest nod. He gave her one back.

"See?" Layan said. Layth gave a small smile. "Yeah. Playing games with family and friends is fun whether you win or lose."

Then Layth's piece hit another snake. He stared at it. "...This game still has too many snakes though." Layan laughed. Mama laughed. Even Baba smiled.