Video games are immature, time wasting and self-seeking. In-fact all women loathe them; they (women) would rather date an illiterate than a man who plays them. Right?… very wrong.

Unconfirmed statistics allege that 79% of men who play video games have social problems ranging from violence, laziness and divorces. Personally, I think that the nonconstructive side of playing video games is over-rated. My evidence: The story of my life.

I had just gotten my first job as a script writer in a media firm. My job description included writing video scripts to be used on a weekly educational documentary that was aired on one of the local channels. The documentary ran up to seven minutes and consequently I had a lot of time left in my hands.

I was not into social sites because I believe they were weird. What I was really into until this day were video games. I would finish my work so fast and spend the rest of the day glued on my computer playing. My choice of game was not as “multifaceted” as the Xbox or as “addictive” as the poke Môn. Mine was arguably the easiest: the good old solitaire. I was so in love with this game that I did not venture into other video games. I called it loyalty.

Solitaire meant the world to me; I did not have a girl friend but who needed extra stress (pun intended). When my workmates would break for tea and lunch, I would still be locked in my office playing. I was still living with my parents who were already tired of my “unsocial behavior.” So addicted was I, that I used almost all of my first salary to buy a phone that had the game instead of finding accommodation.

“My son shouldn’t you be playing games with girls instead of those idiotic things, that can’t get me a grandson?” My mother would usually mock me.

One day at work, someone knocked on my office door.

“Come in,” I said not paying much attention.

I was sure it was not my boss since he was out of town so I was not really worried.

“Is it possible for you to send me your scripts so that I can determine the locations we are going to use?” Mary asked. She was the programmes director.

“OK fine …” I said without even looking at her.

Two days later, we had a meeting. I hated meetings because I was forced to stare at peoples faces (some not so good looking) instead of my screen.

“Who is the most focused amongst you,” Mr Mbalika our boss asked, after a long discussion.

I silently thanked God that he had not asked the opposite. I would definitely have taken the crown.

“David Njeru … I think is the most focused …,” Mary said.

The others nodded their heads in agreement. What kind of a sick joke was that? Or were they being sarcastic?

“David doesn’t go for tea and sometimes misses lunch just to ensure that his work is perfected,” Mary continued.

“He is so engrossed in his work that he hardly looks at anyone, when he is working,” Ezekiel seconded her.

Long and short, I got a promotion that day. Well, the thing is that my computer screen faced away from the door, so no one knew exactly what I was doing. I smiled wickedly and of course accepted the offer. Solitaire was taking me places.

Mary became a close friend from that day (I owed her). For once I saw her face she was beautiful.

One day she came to my office still engrossed in my solitaire game.

“You can’t believe this Mr. Mbalika has just gotten an accident …” she announced

“Ok … I’ll send.” I said. I actually had not heard what she had said.

She was so mad and started shouting at me as she moved closer.

What is wrong with you, can’t you stop..w. … What?” she suddenly chocked.

She had seen my screen Beautiful with my game. For once I wished the earth would open and swallow me or I was having a nightmare.

She stared at me and then let out a sarcastic almost frightening laughter. At the end of the day I had confessed of my addiction and begged her not to tell. I even offered her lunch (read bribed her.)

I thought it would be the end of our close friendship, but no she actually found it exciting.

In two weeks I had taught her how to play the game during lunch break. Solitaire was actually the string that bonded us together. We would spend most of the time playing together and weekends were our best of times.

One and a half years later we were cutting a solitaire-themed cake together. Solitaire had thus brought us far. Man and wife.