Chutes and Ladders

She squatted on carpet
beside toddling boys
and girls, taught
them to roll dice
between chubby knuckles.
They moved red and blue
plastic pieces through
myriad twists and swoops,
ups and downs. All
was fun and games,
until my father
packed up, skipped
all rules and moves,
swept past all players,
an exciting up and down
game for little people
boxed and shelved
to gather dust.