Toys

[OutsideLookingIn]

So the story between Oskar and Eli takes place in the very early 1980's, and the ice is broken between the two by a Rubik's cube. I imagine that the Rubik's was quite a popular toy at the time, but I was just a little guy then so I can't say for sure. So my question is: If the two children were the same age at the time YOU were that age, what toy(s) do you think may have sparked the initial interest between them?

[J.J.]

Well, in my case I guess it would have been a video game console, without a doubt. Nintendo DS, PSP... one of those. I can totally imagine Eli playing tetris with Oskar's console

[gary13136]

In my day, it most likely would have been a bicycle, a Duncan yo-yo, or a hula hoop.

But I go back a few years (quite a few), so it might have been a new model of steam locomotive on the railroad down at the end of our street. In fact it could have been the latest episode of Gunsmoke on the (non-color) TV.

[intrige]

"What is that?" Oskar shows it to the girl.
"It's a gameboy, don't you know what that is?" She shook her head silently.
"You want to try it?" He handed it over to her, she grabbed it right away. He got a glimpse of her dirty fingernailt, brown and black around and inside under the nails. She looked at the gameboy, poorly made music came from it, her eyes got big.
"What IS this?"
"It's pokemon, see you have to.." She handed it over to him, moved a bit closer to him. He tried to not breathe though his nose as he spoke.
"You have to push the buttons to make him move, see?"
"OoOOo." She said, she had really never seen a gameboy before. He looked over at her, she looked down at it. She was pretty even though she was dirty. Butterflies moved in his belly, he looked down at the device again. She just lost a battle, game over. She sighed.
"If you want to you can barrow it, until tomorrow."
"I might not be here tomorrow." She said as she sighed again, she still looked down at her hands.
"The next day then, but no longer than that." She looked up, straight at him. The butterflies grew again.
"Fine, now show me." She gave it to him in a rush, he got kind of nervous now. What if he lost? He sometimes did that. It would be imberresing. But he started playing..

Once my infected niece (She's 12 now) she asked me what a gameboy was. I went like this: Seriously you don't know? How old am I? Counting.. Hm.

[Nightrider]

Once my infected niece (She's 12 now) she asked me what a gameboy was. I went like this: Seriously you don't know? How old am I? Counting.. Hm.

As you get older it's going to get worse and worse....I promise.

[EEA]

Once my infected niece (She's 12 now) she asked me wha
t a gameboy was. I went like this: Seriously you don't know? How old am I? Counting.. Hm.

As you get older it's going to get worse and worse....I promise.

Yeah hehe
I remember the first gameboy I got. It was the color kiwi and my first game I play was Pokemon the blue version. If I were Oskar I would be nervous if I let someone borrow the gameboy. It would go like this:

Oskar hesitated as the girl extended her hand waiting for him to hand over his precious gameboy.
"Well.."
She was cute he admitted that but what if something happen to his gameboy. Then he would not be able to catch all the Pokemon and he really really wanted to captured all the Pokemon. Just like the song said you gotta catch them all.
He gave in. The girl look happy. He left her there and went back to his building. But he could not sleep. Oh No! He forgot to show her how to start the game. What if she click on new game instead of continue. That would mean his game would be erased and he had almost all the Pokemon. He did not sleep that night...

[a_contemplative_life]

I think Eli would have enjoyed a Transformer.

[DarkGuyver]

Once my infected niece (She's 12 now) she asked me what a gameboy was. I went like this: Seriously you don't know? How old am I? Counting.. Hm.

You would be surprised how many kides these days don't know what a gameboy is. It is totally shocking, I've still got my old 1st gen green and black screen gameboy somewhere. Cann't find!

[Ash]

I got one of these for my 12th birthday and with Eli's sensitive ears it would be bound to get her attention.
Maybe it could be used as a personal protection device if she decided to nomm me?
"I miss the days when they made toys that could kill a kid." - Seinfeld

[OutsideLookingIn]

Once my infected niece (She's 12 now) she asked me what a gameboy was. I went like this: Seriously you don't know? How old am I? Counting.. Hm.

As you get older it's going to get worse and worse....I promise.

I blew the dust of my old NES to show to my buddy's kids. I managed to get R.C. Pro Am working before they lost interest, although said interest did not last long... Kids these days!!

Anyway... I think Eli would have been completely absorbed by Tetris on the GameBoy. And I think the kids would have enjoyed playing with Lego's or Tinkertoys indoors.