Most normal families pick an ordinary weekday, around 7:30pm, and they dust off one of the old Parker Bros. games, and they play together as a way of solidifying their deep bond as a unit.
Well, the Black Flower family had been called many things, by many people (law enforcement, biker gangs, assorted clergy etc.) but “normal” was not one of those adjectives that popped up. For this family, Game Night occurred 4:48am, after the boys cleaned up the bar following all of the festivities of Saturday.
Tonight, was Pictionary.
Tyler stood at the easel, carefully constructing his drawing. He pushed his glasses up higher on his nose, and bit his lip in concentration.
“It’s a bird!” Joey yelled.
“It’s a plane!” Zac laughed.
“Penis!” Jamie shouted, throwing his hands in the air. It came as no surprise to anyone, since Jamie had only guessed ‘penis’ for every round, from the time they started playing.
“Time’s up.” Chris announced.
Tyler dropped the marker, frustrated. Yet another of his artistic masterpieces had gone to waste. “Dammit! It’s a lighthouse… a lighthouse!”
Jamie raised his hand. “I was closest!”
Tyler rolled his eyes. “This game is stupid! I vote we play another game. How about Jenga?” he suggested.
Zac shook his head. “Jamie always makes us yell out ‘penis’. What about Scrabble?”
“Nope,” Joey interjected, “He’ll just keep swapping tiles until he can spell the word ‘penis’.”
“We could play Clue,” Chris suggested.
They all thought for a moment about the probability, and in the end, agreed that it was indeed a safe choice. Tyler ran to get the box as Jamie jumped to his feet and disappeared down the hall.
Tyler excitedly unpacked the game on the coffee table. “I call Colonel Mustard!” he said.
“Hell no, I’m Colonel Mustard, everyone knows that. You’re Miss Scarlet, you saucy bitch!” Zac teased.
“I don’t want to be Miss Scarlet!” Tyler argued.
“Ooh you’re hot when you’re angry M’dere,” Jamie said from the doorway. He had changed into black slacks and a crisp, white shirt with amethyst cufflinks. His purple, satin bow tie was a perfect complement to his crushed velvet jacket of the same color. Clearly, Professor Plum was reporting for duty. He puffed on a red and yellow plastic pipe, and thought to himself that he needed to buy more bubble solution when the store opened.
The game began and, despite the slow start. Everyone was having a good time. Zac was looking at the box, deep in thought. “Hey, guys. Do you think I’d look good with a mustache?”
“I think you’d look like a Bee Gee,” Tyler chuckled.
Joey laughed so hard, he nearly choked. “Two words… Freddie Mercury.”
Zac rolled his eyes. “Fuck y’all. I think I’d look good. I’m going to grow one.”
A serious look passed over Jamie’s face. “Okay, moment of truth time.”
They all quieted, and Jamie leaned over to face Chris. In his best Al Pacino voice said, “I know it was you, Bannon.”
All the blood drained from Chris’s face, and he felt like he couldn’t breathe. “Whaa…”
Jamie gave him a solemn nod. “I put it to you,” he turned and addressed them all. “I put it to you all…” He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. When he opened them, there was a hint of a tear in his gaze. “… that it was… Reverend Green… in the living room… WITH HIS PENIS!”
They all groaned amid Jamie’s loud guffaws. He bounced around the room, drunk with his own accomplishment. “I am the king!” he yelled, “and I declare this Sunday Funday!” He fell back onto the couch. Sunday Funday. It had a nice ring to it. It gave Jamie an idea.
Chris looked at the green marker on the board – his marker. That was close. That was… much too close.
