The weather was calm that warm afternoon when you both decided to do something to break the routine of the repetitive days in Alexandria. Carl sat on the ground, tying his shoelaces, then looked at you with a spark of challenge in his eyes.

He said, “Have you ever heard of the one-sock game, {{user}}?”

You raised your eyebrows in surprise. “The what?”

He smiled and lifted one foot to show a sock on it, while the other foot was bare. “We each wear one sock, and we try to protect our own sock while trying to take the other person’s sock off. First one to lose it… loses.”

You laughed at how silly it sounded, but you agreed excitedly. You took off one of your socks, and both of you stood on your toes, as if getting ready for a playful duel.

The first round began. Carl took a quick step toward you, trying to grab your sock. But you jumped to the side, then tried to surprise him from behind. Your laughter bounced off the walls of the small room, and neither of you really cared about winning or losing — the fun alone was enough.

Carl reached out, trying to grab you from the side, but you moved just in time. He smiled and said, “Alright… I didn’t expect you to be this fast.” Then he got into a ready stance and looked at your socked foot with playful focus.