the gamea were great. The family loved them all so much. They were laughing and singing. Soon ome of the cards read ‘sing baby by justin beiber.’ Someone began to sing but got the words all mixed up. Someone justin came out of the game box and started to get mad since they didnt know the words. What a time.

It was a Saturday night. And I’m not kidding when I told you it was a full moon. We’re all playing Monopoly and for some reason my brother got upset because he got a thimble. We were having a grand old time and suddenly a fight broke out. Don’t look at me; I didn’t start it. I was simply trying to get my money for boardwalk. The game lasted for 12 hours. Can you believe it 12 hours! It’s not my fault that they didn’t know how to handle their money. So I was little bit cocky. That’s not a reason to throw the whole game board down the floor. Everyone start to fight this started from the thimble to throwing money. And that was 10 years ago and I haven’t spoke to my brother since then. So here we are after after a decade at The saddest occasion. It was our cousin’s funeral. And we haven’t spoken to her since that monopoly game. I’ve had a few kids and a few marriages but I’ve never had monopoly in my house again. My children do not know your uncle. They’ve never met their grandparents. I blame it on the game.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh, not fair!! Moooooooooooom!! Jack cheated !!!”

“I DID NOT!!!”

“CHEATER!!”

“Okay, Sam I think that’s enough.”

“Ugh, that’s it, I’m telling ya, there has got to be some kinda conspiracy…!! The next person who wins is adopted!!”

“SAM!!”

“SAM!! CUT THAT OUT RIGHT THIS INSTANCE!!!”

Their parents called out Sam’s name, a little too loud and harshly. Loud enough to plant a little seed of doubt about how things were, harsh enough to let that seed of doubt grow. How Sam was situated in this family. Something started to not sit right and it started to bother him.

“So, Sam, you found out you were adopted from a game of monopoly?”

“Yeah. So stupid, huh?”

“I don’t think being adopted is stupid, but the way you found out was a bit random.. musta come as a bit of a shock. Are you okay?”

Sam shrugged.

“Yeah.. I suppose. It’s just an extra little nugget of knowledge I dug out about myself. Y’know, Jack and I have yelled at each other, telling the other that they’re adopted all the time, never really believing it. Just kinda comes as a shock when something vague comes into focus and it turns out to be true, if you get what I mean.

“Yeah, I think I do get what you mean Sam. So.. are you okay?”

Sam shrugged.

“Yeah. I mean, nothing has really changed, right? Things are.. business as usual, right?”

“Yeah.. I suppose you’re right.”

“Look, although I’ve joked about saying that I must’ve been adopted, I never quite believed it. My parents never let me believe it, y’know.”

“Hey, that’s sweet. You’ve got nice parents.”

“Yeah, I guess. So I suppose nothing has really changed…”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaagh, not fair!!”

“Moooooooooooom!! Jack cheated !!!”

“I DID NOT!!!”

“CHEATER!!”

“Okay, Sam I think that’s enough.”

“Ugh, that’s it, I’m telling ya, there has got to be some kinda conspiracy…!! The next person who wins is adopted!!”

“SAM!!”

“SAM!! CUT IT OUT RIGHT THIS INSTANCE!!!”

Their parents called out Sam’s name, a little too loudly. Loud enough to plant a little seed of doubt about how things are, how Sam’s beautiful family was put together and how Sam was situated in this family. Something started to not sit right and it started to bother him.

“So, Sam, you found out you were adopted from a game of monopoly?”

Sam nodded as he gave a wry smile.

“Yeah. So stupid, huh.”

“I don’t think being adopted is stupid, but the way you found out was a bit random and terribly sudden. It musta come as a bit of a shock. Are you okay?”

“Yeah.. I suppose. It’s just an extra little nugget of knowledge I dug out about myself. Y’know, Jack and I have yelled at each other, telling the other that they’re adopted all the time, never really believing it. Just kinda comes as a shock when something vague comes into focus and it turns out to be true fact, if you get what I mean.”

“Yeah, I think I do get what you mean Sam. So.. are you okay?”

Sam shrugged.

“Yeah. I mean, nothing has really changed, right? Things are.. business as usual, right?

“Yeah.. I suppose you’re right.”

“Look, although I’ve joked about saying that I must’ve been adopted, I never really believed it. My parents never let me believe it, y’know.”

“That’s sweet. You’ve got nice parents.”

“Yeah, I guess. So I suppose nothing has really changed…”

“…Why do you keep saying that?”

“Say what?”

“That nothing has changed.”

Sam bit his lip.

“Jace, Jack hasn’t taken it very well.”

“Oh..”

“Yeah. We might need time to adjust, or some counseling..”

We were a family of board game enthusiasts. We played everything, and I am not exaggerating one bit. Some of our more competitive games were: Trouble, Clue, Sorry, Rat-rap, Monopoly (of course), Miles Borne, Life, Stratego, Battleship, and last but not least Risk! But no epic family battle with dice ever compared to an odd game gifted to us one Christmas. The simple, yet complex game of Trade and development known as “Settlers of Catan”.

It took a few playthrough s for any of us to ever develop a strategy… which relied on how well each of us could trade to make moves within the game. This became a cut throat aspect.

Now without explaining all of the rules you must understand this to further the story. When I say that trading was a big aspect, hindrance, and obstacle about this game… take my word for it. Often times the family would find each other screaming for wood or Iron or clay. With one bratty little brother hoarding the one resource anyone needs to advance. Because of this we as a family began to develop house rules in order to actually finish a game. As our games went on, these rules became more elaborate.

Then one evening someone got the brilliant idea of a new game completely. This version involved jail cells and partners… and your partner could become jailed, rendering them useless until the right number was rolled on the dice by the other partner. . .

Needless to say that about an hour into it the scene had turned from ‘innocent family board game night’ to a full on mutiny within the household. We managed to get our parents into jail… which was an actual sturdy prison a welder friend of my father had made just for the occasion… and we locked them up. Now we, the children had control of the house.

Just try to imagine 3 kids… the oldest being 14, and the youngest 6… now in full control of the entire house while their parents watched helplessly in a cage in the living room. Cue the music, candy, recklessness, horse play, broken dishes… complete freedom from order.

Of course once police finally showed up from all of the noise and my parents awkwardly had to explain how they had short handed themselves and gave up control of an entire house over a board game, we did get in trouble. We were grounded for a month, and had to work off the damages.

The next night I found my father standing alone in the dark backyard. I put on my winter clothes and walked out to stand beside him.

“Dad what are you doing?” I asked.

“Saving this family.” He claimed as he sprayed lighter fluid all over the game board.

Family game night. A simple thing right? Well not really in my family. My family have a different tradition of game night. I know most families enjoy a nice maybe even hostile game of monopoly. Maybe the game is risk with strategy and precise moves. I wish we could just play a game of twister and let it be just that. Sadly no.

My family have powers. Each one of us has a different and unique power. Some call it magic with in certain circles or it’s called by others spell-casting, but I can assure no words are spoken. I wouldn’t call us mutants or wizards. We are just us.

Coming from a long line of Graces we are well known within our circles. As far as I have known there are 15 families. That doesn’t sound like a lot but we never marry outside the circle. The families have at least three children and to make things withstand each family has to have a girl with each generation. The generations have stretched since mythology times. Apollo was a Grace. King Midas is how we funded the first families and the finances for future generations. Merlin was not just anybody. Morgana was not just the sister to King Arthur. Gilgamesh was not as old as everybody makes him out to be he just had the power to time travel. A curse too because every time he jumped it aged him one year out of two hundred. Poor Gil he was told too late in life by his father. Who unfortunately had the power to see the future, but had the worst memory. You see every power in our families has a downside as well. Like a balance.

We have a hard time connecting with normal people so we mostly keep to ourselves. We are very rich and so we can keep to ourselves as well. King Midas like I said helped us out and other family members over time have had similar powers. No one family is all powerful and that’s thanks to the family game night.

Every ten years a game night is held. Over the years it’s had other names. I mean how do you think the olympics really started. The game night is really a test to see who holds control over the families from going too crazy and try taking on the world. We have had outbreaks with certain teenagers over time and the family has had to lay the law down.

Tonight is the inevitable game night. Night really isn’t the right description. The game starts at 12:00 am and ends at 11:59pm and not a minute over. The whole twenty four hours is the game stretched all over a given location that changes every decade. Every family appoints five members of proper age to participate. I was chosen this time around. every family has its unique ways of picking members to play. My family simple cast ivory dice. Other families I know such as the Michaels who use electric shock treatments to determine the losers or winners within their family.

I bet your wondering what my power is. Well I am Vincent Grace the eighth. I’m the oldest of four. I have two sisters and a brother who is 11 months younger than me. We are Irish twins so to speak. My power is matter manipulation. I can turn objects into whatever I can imagine. There is a science to it, but that’s really difficult to explain. It involves a lot of alchemy and spells and magic and yada yada. My brother Tyler Grace can shape shift to any animal …mostly mammal we believe. He hasn’t done anything else as of yet. Each child usually gets his/her powers at age 5 sometimes 6 depending the strength of the power. Usually the power is kept secret from other families, but word gets around with most of the families all getting along with each other. My power holds great responsibility with the games. Now you are wondering are the games to the death and the answer is no. It’s more like a game of tag. Injury is typical and death is rare but can still happen. I mean we are humans with power what do you expect. The winner is decided by out lasting the others. That’s why the families choose who goes into the games. You wouldn’t want a guy like Aquaman in the desert. He would lose so quick.

Back on point. Tonight is the Games and we are in New York City. I’m trying not to be too cocky because I mean NYC has so many things and places too manipulate. As the hours tick down the circle of location shrinks. By the end it’s like a two block radius. This is to prevent someone from hiding the whole time.

We know who our opponents are 15 families and 5 members from each so 75 players. That’s a lot of players to beat. The one I’m nervous about is Emery Faith. I know I know Grace-Faith…. Fate but no it’s just a coincidence. Emery has the same power as me. Which not uncommon but unusual for the same generation to have the same power.

Tonight should be fun.

I held the uno cards in my hand, staring at mom with a smirk. She knew I had won. “Oh hell, I quit!” She cackled, playfully smacking me on the arm. She went to the kitchen sink, grabbed the bottle of wine, and poured herself another glass. Tonight we were having a good night, she wasn’t falling over drunk, this was her second glass of wine, not her seventh, which was rare for a Friday night.

“So, how is school going, kid?” Mom asked. “Well, it’s okay, I’m still thinking about dropping out, but I really like this guy…” “Oh, tell me about him!” Mom pressed. I blushed and shyly answered, “He’s a senior, but 19 because he was held back- but listen, mom, he’s really great, and I really want you to think about letting me date him!”

Mom looked at me while sipping her wine at the sink. “Well, I was 16 when I got pregnant with you, and your dad was 19. God knows he was the love of my life. I guess I’ll give him a chance, if I meet him and like him. I smiled and turned bright red, “ Good, because he’s on his way over for game night..let’s play Yahtzee together!”

I was in the closet hunting for Yahtzee when I heard the knock on the door. I rushed to meet Colson at the door, but mom answered first.

“Hi Colson! This is my…” I stopped talking realizing that mom and Colson had locked eyes. “Uh, Casey, thanks for inviting me, but I gotta go.” He looked at me for a second, but continued to gaze back at mom. “Why? Colson what’s going on?? Mom stop being weird!”

Mom looked at me, “ I think we need to talk, honey. Colson, you need to leave.” Mom looked at Colson with angry eyes.

“What is it mom?? Just tell me!”

“Honey, when dad and I got a divorce, he met another man online and started dating him. What I am trying to say is..he’s dating Colson.”

(tw; homophobia/transphobia)

Demi sighed as they buttoned up their shirt, trying not to think about how it was tight across their bust. They would just have to deal with it. They hated the way their pants caught on their wide hips. At least their hair they could clip up well enough.

Meeting with their grandparents and cousins was intimidating. A few years ago, maybe it wouldn’t have been. Things were simpler then. But now they held secrets close to their chest, ones they couldn’t trust their family to know.

Demi’s mother, father and sister knew, but the word accepting was relative. Kicked Demi out? No. Disowned him? No. But they hadn’t been exactly considerate of the name change pronouns. Demi had only just gotten their hands on the button up shirt they worse today.

“Dereja,” Their mom yelled from downstairs, making them cringe, “get down here! We’re going!”

“Coming!” Demi yelled back as they closed the door to their room.

“Dereja, what game do you want to bring?” Their dad asked. Demi shrugged.

“Uno! Uno! Can we bring Uno please!” Rachel cheered. Demi smiled down at her.

“I’m fine with Uno.” Demi shrugged. Their dad nodded and grabbed the game off the shelf.

“Okay, now come on, come on, in the car, lets go!” Demi’s mother ushered, moving behind her children and pushing on their backs.

—//—

Demi was fine for a while. They were glad to see everyone, and playing rounds of Uno while they waited for food was enjoyable as always. But slowly, it all started to get to them.

“Dereja!” “Dere!” “She this-“ “She that-“ “Her-“ “Dereja pay attention-“

“Demi.” Demi corrected their grandfather as he spoke.

He turned to her, eyes open in confusion. Demi stared back at him, ignoring the glare they were receiving from their mother and the worried look of their sister.

“Excuse me?” Their grandfather asked.

“Can you call me Demi? I prefer to be called Demi.” They explained.

“But why?” Their aunt jumped in. “Dereja is such a pretty name! You don’t need a nick name.”

“I prefer Demi.” They repeated.

“But why?” Their aunt pushed, not accepting their answer. Demi dug their nails into their other hand under the table.

“Dereja?”

“Demi is non-binary.” Their sister said. Everyone turned to her, surprised at the young girl.

“What on earth is that?” Their grandmother asked.

“It’s something we don’t have to discuss at the dinner table.” Their mother said shortly.

“Isn’t that the made-up gender thing.” One of Demi’s oldest cousins asked with a gross look. “She’s not like that!”

“They!” Demi’s sister corrected.

“Rachel, no.” Their father hissed. Rachel crossed her arms and sunk in her chair.

“Dereja, you can’t just pretend to be something just because you want to be.” Their Aunt laughed, but her look serious.

Demi slammed their fist down, silverware rattling as they stood. They didn’t even have any words for their pain and anger as tears began to fall down their face. Demi simply walked straight out of the restaurant.

Card games are fun and something new, But it gets old when the Uno reverse card skips you.

Twister is a tangled mess but you bond with your opponents, Except when you injure yourself and have to get stents.

Beating some one at Risk when you conquer their last country is rewarding, The one who gets their hopes snatched away has to say I will have my day to winning.

To get all the railroads in Monopoly and winning money from others poor rolling, But losing everything in debt is disheartening.

Guessing the Clue suspect weapon and place getting it right and winning the game, But losing to someone with luck on their side ,as you practiced regularly and strategized.

The point of this story is to prove my point of how the out come affects your life, The winner celebrates and their ego increased but the loser’s hope has been forgotten as their self confidence lies deceased.

“Draw two!” My brother exclaimed as he slapped the card down on the pile. I smiled behind the two cards I held in front of my face. “Not today punk!” I said as I slapped my draw to card down on the pile “Draw Four!” “You should learn to respect your elders.” Uncle Carl slipped his card on the pile, “Draw Six.” “Oh snap. Somebody’s going to draw but it isn’t going to be me!” My little sister Ann taunted as she dropped her card on the pile. I laughed, “Draw eight brother dear.” Ann was barely containing her giggles, and even Uncle Carl was smiling. He almost never smiled. Brian glared at us. “Well go ahead,” said Uncle Carl. Brian had to be holding at least twenty cards. The game had not been going his way. “You started this Brian, so draw.” I said. Instead, he threw his cards on the table, as he stood up and his chair toppled to the side. “Way to be dramatic Bri.” Ann rolled her eyes, “you’re such a poor sport.” “You guys suck and you cheat!” He stomped off, and a moment later his door slammed. “He always does this, I don’t know why we bother,” I said. Uncle Carl started gathering up the cards. Static seemed to fill the air, and lightning cracked outside. We were all back sitting in our seats holding cards. I looked around the table. I looked around the table, my siblings and my uncle were wearing identical expressions of shock and fear. My brother slapped the draw two card down again and shouted “Draw two.” His voice cracked this time, and as I looked at him he mouthed “what is going on?” I started to shake my head and say I don’t know, as I felt my hand move of it’s own accord and the words “not today punk” forced out of my mouth. The game continued to play out exactly as before. This time after Brian stomped off and slammed his door. Uncle Carl, Anne, and I just sat staring at each other in shock. I turned as I heard my brother’s footsteps coming back down the hallway. The static started filling the air, and the lightning cracked outside. The game repeated, and repeated, and repeated. This was hell.