“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..”