Marbles and five stones

The six years in primary school were the best years of our lives! We learned really elementary stuff (compared to what the kids are studying today) and spent hours playing in the dusty school yard.

The games were simple but fun. You'd find little girls in brown pinafore huddled together in groups, playing five stones, hopscotch, chupteh, skipping and card games like 'Donkey' or 'Family'.

The guys would be engrossed in a game of marbles, kuti kuti or kasing (tops) under the shady raintrees. The sporty ones who played soccer or sepak takraw (rattan ball) would come back to class after recess all covered in sweat and grime. No wonder we were never attracted to anyone of them.

Those were the days.