I stared with confusion at my phone. The rest of the gang were all in on this Monopoly

game. I swear to God, if you get free parking, I will literally kill your stupid face, said Evelyn.

Ravi rolled the dice in his hands. Come on, sweet baby Jesus, doesn't need a four.

He dropped them onto the board. Fuck, he said, probably biffing it like always.

I tried to make sense of it.

Just one word on my screen.

Black text and an all-white background.

Rather, classical-looking fond.

Hide.

I tapped, rather impatiently, on the expensive black rectangle. I tapped rather impatiently on the expensive black rectangle.

The text wouldn't disappear.

AJ, Evelyn called, like a teacher busting a student.

You're fucking addicted.

Play board games like a normal human adult.

Yeah, I...

Sorry.

A few more desperate finger pecks at the screen.

Then I turned to holding the power button down for an extended period. With my free hand,

I grabbed the dice, rolled a three, landed on B&O Railroad. After two seconds of thought,

fuck railroads, I said. Of course, we weren't animals.

If someone didn't want to buy a property, that was fine.

No auctions or any of that nonsense.

...