Guns were loaded. The game of Halo 3 began in three seconds. I was not ready.

My opponent, Jeffrey, had a tendency of totally owning everyone who attempted to play him. His sister, who had played a few minutes before, had been killed so many times, it scared me. And she was what I considered an expert.

But now he had decided to play me.

I was at Jeffrey’s house because of a big party that Jeffrey’s parent, and he had invited me to a game of Halo 3 on his XBOX (a gaming system). Halo 3 was probably the most complicated shooting game I had ever seen. But then again, I don’t see many shooting games.

The game began. I started walking around. It had been a few months since I last touched a shooting game. I clumsily moved around, and asked how to shoot. I had forgotten. He told me.

And the next thing I knew I was dead.

I didn’t know it happened at first. I just couldn’t move. A message appeared, telling me I was “assassinated”. I quickly asked Jeffrey if it meant anything particular. Yes, he replied, assassination is when someone gets right behind you and shoots you in the head.

I was shocked to realize that he had managed to get so close. When I respawned (you are alive again after a game).

And then I was assassinated again. It was really incredible, the speed that Jeffrey attacked. And he was eating some chips at the same time. Incredible.

Finally, a guest at the party walked over and volunteered to play. He had never played before, and I was eager to have an opponent I could actually beat.

My new opponent randomly pressed buttons and caused himself to be killed by his own grenade. He pleaded Jeffrey for help on how to play.

“Well, you press this button,” he said, and pressed it, “to shoot. So when Brad comes,” (I was just attempting to sneak up on him), “you just aim and shoot.” Which he did. I died.

“Jeffrey,” I asked annoyed, “This is the most unfair match I have ever played!”

“Practice,” he said, “it takes practice.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I get a good load of that at home every day,” I snorted sarcastically. I didn’t have a XBOX 360, or for that matter, any game console (with the exception of a computer).

“Ah, well,” he said, and then proceeded to challenge me to another match.

I died. Twenty-five times. He died twice. He won.