This evening around 9 PM, my son and his friend practically dragged me out of the house to play with them. Not for a regular or a standard game! I was hesitant at first — after all, they’re around 10 years old, and I wasn’t sure I’d fit into their world of games and imagination. Reluctantly (and with a little curiosity), I gave in. And I’m so glad I did.
They took me to a quiet corner of our apartment campus and announced the name of the game with great excitement: Scary Shawarma.
The idea was surprisingly creative. One or two players run a shawarma shop, while others act as customers walking in. The twist? The shop owners have to closely observe the customers and figure out whether they are “normal” or suspicious — almost like watching people on a security camera.
The customers secretly use gestures, expressions, and subtle actions as clues, trying to make it difficult for the shop owners to identify them correctly. It’s a game of keen observation, alertness, and quick decisions. If the shop owners feel something is off, they must immediately shut the shop. If everything seems fine, they serve the customer.
What amazed me was how thoughtful the whole game was — filled with sign language, acting, strategy, and attention to detail. I was fooled more than once (okay, maybe three times 😄), and every round became more thrilling than the last.
Despite starting out unsure, I found myself completely immersed — laughing, concentrating, trying to catch tiny clues, and genuinely having fun. For those moments, I wasn’t a 40-year-old adult anymore. I was just another excited player in a make-believe world.
My son later told me that if I joined daily, more of his friends would come, and the game would become even more fun with many customers acting differently each time. And honestly, I can already imagine how exciting that would be.
It was such a simple game — yet so rich in creativity, bonding, and joy.
Sometimes, all it takes is saying yes to a child’s invitation to rediscover a part of yourself you thought was long gone. Thanks to Scary Shawarma, I felt like a child again after many years — and it was beautiful.
