“Class, we are going to play Pick-Up Sticks”, said Miss Pat.

Willie moaned and Hector groaned and Jay rolled his eyes. Miss Pat ignored them calling on Eulyn asking, “Do you know how Pick-Up Sticks is played”? Eulyn shook her head no.

Orrie called out, “I do, I do my grandpa taught me to play Pick-Up Sticks.”

“Oh Orrie, You’re such a show off,” said Kathy, “You always know the answers”!  Orrie gave her a look and said, “Can I help it if I’m smart and always look things up in Wikipedia”?

“OK class, that’s enough”, said Miss Pat. Everyone settled down and Miss Pat invited Orrie to demonstrate how the game is played. She handed Orrie a bunch of sticks that she had in her hand. They were about 6 to 8 inches long. 

Orrie said, “Okay, this is how Pick-Up Sticks is played.”

Then he took the sticks and dropped them in a pile on the table. He told his classmates that the object of the game is to remove a stick from the pile without moving any of the other sticks. The person that has the most sticks when all the sticks are gone is the winner.

The class lined up, waiting to take their turn. Kathy made the pile of sticks move the first time she tried. Annie was doing well for awhile and then she was out of the game because she made the sticks move. It came down to Jay and Maria and…

Maria won Pick-Up Sticks!