Who's up for a game?

I like this sign on the bridge. It points toward the western end of the island and a bit of ground that's made for a game of boules, also known as pétanque and similarly, in Italian, bocce. I've only ever played once. It was the first year we lived here at a party hosted by our neighbors across the street. I was asked to join a game.

I love the little green man tossing a ball and the other balls at his feet. I know enough to know that if those balls are at his feet, he's not going to win anything.

Well, I had had plenty of wine at that point in the afternoon and had no idea how to play, but I had no inhibitions and joined the game. The guys laughed at my foreign lack of skill and more than once told me to just throw the ball "over there," which I did. More laughter. But once or twice I apparently made a good play, although I'm not sure how. At least, that's how I (almost) remember it.