Blast from the Past - coming tomorrow

Tomorrow, I'm going to release August's 'blast from the past', where I look back at a classic Sebtomato tale. 

Here's an excerpt - see if you can tell which story it is :) 

Peter looks at the die. Three. He moves his piece, not into the jaws of a snake for once, and takes a celebratory drink from his glass.

He grins. “So what does the winner get?”

“Hmmm?” Jackie takes her own turn, rolling the die with a casual flick.

“What’s the prize?” Peter nods his head. “There has to be a prize.”

Jackie moves her piece, and then rubs her chin in thought. “A bubble bath?”

Peter demonstrates his best little boy sneer. “That’s a rubbish prize!”

Jackie shrugs. “Maybe that’s what the loser gets, then.”

“I’m not gonna lose,” Peter says softly. And perhaps that’s too much, over the line, and Jackie stares at him, making Peter seek refuge in a thirsty drink from his glass. He wipes his lips with the back of his hand. “I bet I finish my drink first.”

“Everything’s a race for seven year olds!” Jackie says with a laugh. But she takes a big drink from her glass and sets it beside Peter’s, narrowing her eyes as if judging the two levels of liquid. “We’ll see about that.”

Peter rolls the die. Four. Another snake. “Shoot,” Peter cries.

Jackie gives him a sympathetic look. “Not easy when you play the best, sweetie. I could play snakes and ladders at the Olympics. And I’d probably win a gold medal.” And Jackie’s face takes on a wistful expression.

Peter dutifully laughs, and then says, “You’re just lucky.” He finishes his drink with a big gulp, prompting Jackie to take another drink of hers. A dribble of blackcurrant squash runs down her chin, and she giggles. “Ooops,” she says, and wipes it with her arm, leaving a purple smear on the sleeve of her white school blouse.

Time to count, counting back, and Peter eyes the living room clock. Just nine minutes since they sat down to play the game, and since Peter brought through the drinks. Nine minutes and half-gone. Plenty.