Susan Senator

Last Friday Ned and I noticed that Max was being kind of terse (more than usual) and even a touch snotty when he talked to us. I couldn’t figure it out. I kept asking him what was wrong, which never works. It actually never works with most people. Most people do not want to just dive into the emotional swamp of “what’s wrong” and pull out the filthy thing that has snaked its way around their hearts. Even I cannot answer that question. If I even know the answer, why in the world would I want to talk about it, feel those ugly words on my tongue? If I don’t know the answer, then I have to feel around in the evil darkness for some response. So what do we all say? “Nothing!” In a snotty, or teary, voice. And take a nap, send a nasty email, or something.

As we were getting into bed, however, Ned mentioned that Max’s online game, Uru Live, was being shut down; at least, this fan-run version of Uru is being shut down because CyanWorlds is now putting up an official version of Uru. Uru Live has generated a huge following of loyal players. It is a nonviolent game where, as far as I can tell, you create yourself as a character within the world, and you solve puzzles in the Uru worlds, and you can even make your own part of the world for others to wander through. Max has been involved with this for several years, and has made friends this way. Online friends, and sure, I’ve worried, but Ned and I have always monitored this situation to be sure all of the contacts he makes are Kosher (and I don’t mean Jewish, I mean safe and sound) and we feel that this is a unique and wonderful part of his life. It is a community of people who are very moral because they take all the Myst and Uru legends and ways to heart.

“My God!” I said. “That’s why he was acting that way!”
“Yeah,” said Ned. “I talked to him about it. He is pretty bummed.”
“We should do something to commemorate Uru Live!”

The next day I mentioned this idea to Max. I suggested we make a cake to mark the occasion. He agreed readily (cake + Uru = good time for Max). So we did our usual: Nat, Max, and I baked the cake and all the boys decorated while I snapped photos and tried not to lick frosting (but if you look closely at one of these pictures, you will see my fingers scooping up the chocolate)!