Browse ›
An elderly couple play checkers on a small porch table at dusk while a fluffy Siamese cat leans its paws on the table edge. 19 / 31

The Checkers Game Was Getting Serious. Then a Third Player Pulled Up to the Table.

AI imagesiamese catcheckersporch evening

The porch light has just come on, and the checkers game is getting serious. Ruth, in a green cardigan with her hair in a loose bun, studies the red and black board, one hand poised over her next move. Harold sits across from her in a blue plaid shirt, peering through his glasses with the look of a man who suspects he is about to lose. Leaning right up against the worn little table is Miso, his front paws resting on the edge and his fluffy chin almost level with the board, blue eyes watching every move. Behind them, a wicker chair, a stack of magazines, a straw hat and potted plants fill the porch.

Board games are a wonderful habit for older adults. Games like checkers involve planning, memory and a bit of friendly competition, and they give couples and friends a reason to sit together and talk. A cat at the table can make the evening even more fun, but small game pieces are worth watching. Cats love to bat little round objects onto the floor, and a piece that rolls under the couch is easily lost or, worse, chewed. Keeping game sets in a box between rounds and offering the cat its own toy nearby can help everyone play in peace.

Ruth says Miso is on her side. Harold insists the cat is giving him hints. Either way, the game will be talked about at breakfast tomorrow.

More from this collection

All 31 →
An elderly couple sit in green folding lawn chairs in a backyard at sunset, with a Siamese cat sitting on the grass beside them.Two Lawn Chairs, One Sunset, and a Siamese Who Knew Where to LookAn elderly couple stretch toward their toes on green yoga mats while a Siamese cat lies with front paws stretched out ahead.Harold Couldn't Quite Reach His Toes. The Siamese Next to Him Had No Trouble.
An elderly couple sit on a weathered wooden dock holding fishing rods while a Siamese cat crouches on the edge watching the water.Harold Brought the Fishing Rod. Miso Brought a Plan of His Own.An elderly couple on a couch read a handwritten letter together while a Siamese cat lies on the man's lap.An Old Letter Brought a Hush Over the Room. Miso Wanted to Be Part of It.An elderly couple sit on wooden back steps brushing a Siamese cat together, one with a pink brush and one with a black brush.Two Brushes, Two Grandparents and One Siamese Who Didn't Want It to EndAn elderly couple refill a wooden bird feeder full of sparrows while a Siamese cat sits quietly on the deck watching.A Dozen Sparrows Landed on the Feeder. One Siamese Didn't Move a Whisker.