Nando’s recycle bin:

BETH and SCOTT

Scott Kishbaugh’s IQ is twice that of his sister, Beth. She was in special-education classes; he got a master’s degree from Cornell University. Scott is gifted. Beth is mildly retarded.
One Thanksgiving Day when they were children, Scott and Beth were playing Spite and Malice with other family members. It had not been a good day for young Scott, whose older siblings had won their own (and his) share of every game that afternoon. More than once he threw up his hands when another player won. More than once his green eyes glistened with dashed hopes and heartfelt defeat.
The object of Spite and Malice is to use all 26 cards from your pack while preventing other players from doing the same. Some players take as much delight in blocking their opponents as in winning, which is how the game gets its name.
Aunt Polly was kibitzing while Scott and Beth were having a game. She notice Beth missed playing a card from her hand that could have blocked Scott. Beth picked up and said, “Your turn, Scott.” A few minutes later, Beth overlooked another card. “Your turn, Scott.”
Polly was amazed. Beth certainly had limitations elsewhere in life, but in this card game, she was a whiz. She knew the rules and delighted in the game for its own sake. It wasn’t like Beth to “misplay” like this.
“Your turn, Scott.” Shi did it again! Polly was puzzled and fascinated. Eventually Scott won. It perked him up, brought a smile to his face and allowed him to enjoy the rest of that Thanksgiving Day.
Latter Polly asked her niece, “You let Scott win, didn’t you, Beth?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He was sad ‘cause he was losing, Aunt Polly. Scott likes to win.”
“It was nice of you to let him win, Beth.”
“Yes.”
“I wish you’d let me win once in a while,” said Polly with a mock pout on her face.
“Sometimes I do.”
Some 15 years later, Scott Kishbaugh wrote on the dedication page of his master’s thesis:
“. . . I’d also like to dedicate my thesis to my big sister, Beth, who has taught me the most valuable lesson:
Fame and fortune are great, but the best thing about life is life itself. It exists for its own sake and is good. The joy and privilege of love and life itself trivialize other values. I pray that I’ll always follow her valuable lesson; she lives it every day.”
Arthur G. White