I've always been intrigued by bathroom graffiti. Something about the written word in this context speaks to my bent for the absurd, the cold communal playfulness of pop art, the entirely not serious, anti-art. In the men's bathroom at Tryst in Adams Morgan, a game of graffiti has been unfolding in the tiny space between the wall tiles for some time. I call it a 'game' because there are elements of a game in it: play, one-upmanship, an adherence to a loose framework of rules and conventions.

The game works like this: the player writes a title, phrase, or saying on the grout, and substitutes a key part of that title, phrase, or saying with the word 'grout.' Here are some examples:

• The Grout Wall of China
• Self-groutification
• The Grout Gatsby
• No grout about it
• Grout Expectations
• Instant groutification

The rules of the game are fairly easy to discern from the pattern: the substitution must occur on a word that either begins with 'gr' - such as 'great' or 'gratification' - or it can occur on a word that rhymes with 'out' - such as 'doubt.' So 'Grout Ol' Opery' might work, for example. Or, 'sauergrout.' Points are scored based on inventiveness. Got it? Fairly straight-forward, right?

As with any game, there are winners and losers. Some people catch on quickly, and others may miss the point entirely.

It is scrawled in black ink, directly to the left, a little below eye level of any 6-foot-1-inch-tall individual who might be standing at the toilet - this heroic attempt: When Harry Met Grout.

What? No, no, no! 'Sally' and 'Grout?' That's not it, man. What were you thinking? Clearly, you did not pick up on the rules from the many textual clues set before you.

Sorry, buddy. You lose. Not only that, you are banned from all future play.

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