How to Play the Mash Game

Mash is a fun game that children often play in grade school and giggle over when they read the results and talk about future plans. It's not meant to be serious or a true prediction of the future--just an enjoyable way to pass some time during class.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Paper
• Writing utensil

1. Get out a piece of paper. Designate one person as the writer and the other person as the talker. Write "Mash" at the top of the page. Ask the talker which three boys or girls they would like to marry. Write those three names on the left side of the paper. Write a fourth name of your choosing as a funny person that you would like the talker to marry.
2. On the right side of the page write the talker's three choices for vehicles they would like. Write in your fourth choice. In the center below "Mash" write the number of children the person would like to have (three different numbers), then write your own number.
3. Continue this with as many different categories as you like, such as honeymoon destination, color of car or occupation. Once you have filled in all the categories cover a small section of the paper with your hand. Tell the talker to tell you when to stop. Start making small tally marks. When the talker tells you to stop, stop making tally marks.
4. Count the tally marks. That number is your counter. Start from the top with the "Mash" heading and count out that number. Say you had four tally marks. You would count to four; M is 1, A is 2, S is 3 and H is 4. You would then cross out the H. Continue to the next category, the names. Count down the list and cross out the fourth name. Continue to the next category until you are left with only one item in a category, then circle it. Continue to count but don't include circled items in your counting. In the end you will be left with one circled item in each category.
5. Read the remaining items to the talker as a story. For example, "You live in a house, have three children, are married to Big Bird and drive a bus." Afterwards laugh and have fun talking about the "predicted future." Switch spots so that the talker becomes the writer. Start the game over.

Tips & Warnings

• Have fun with the writer's choice for each category.
• Don't add too many categories or it will become too cluttered.