Did you have an imaginary friend, a made-up world, or a secret game you played alone? Tell me all about it.

B Natural answer

Yes, I did. I used to spend a lot of time alone in the backyard, and I invented a secret clubhouse behind the storage shed. In my head, there was a whole routine: I was the captain of the team, and my job was to plan missions before dinner. I even kept score for things like how fast I could run to the gate or how many leaves I could kick without stopping. One of my oddest habits was that I counted every step when I walked across the yard, because I thought it made the game feel official. Looking back, it was probably just a way to entertain myself, but at the time it felt important. I was never bored when I had that little world going on.

Key phrases in this answer

• a secret clubhouse — a hidden place made for play or privacy“We built a secret clubhouse behind the garage.”
• the captain of the team — the person who leads a group in a game or activity“I pretended I was the captain of the team and gave everyone jobs.”
• counted every step — measured each step one by one“I counted every step as I walked across the yard.”
• a whole pirate island — an imagined place that feels complete and detailed“In my head, the toy box became a whole pirate island.”
• made up rules — rules invented for a game or situation“We played with made up rules so the game stayed fun.”
• a tiny kingdom — a small imagined world with its own rules“Under the table, I had a tiny kingdom of my own.”