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“Tentacles out of the dog’s mouth! Cut to black!”
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“Oh come ON!” Tampa squealed in frustration, pushing herself up from her criss-crossed sitting position on the floor. In front of her sat a half-built Jenga tower, sloppily put together with Tampa’s non-dominant left hand. Mackenzie’s cousin, George, giggles.
“That’s just the game, Tampa. No big deal.” George said with a nonchalant shrug. He began to carefully rebuild the Jenga tower, his movements deliberate and steady. “We can just start a new round-”
“But you were rooting against us this whole time!” Tampa interrupted, her voice raising in volume and pitch, “The non stop pulls, starting rounds with less blocks than the last, you making me rebuild the tower with my left hand? And don’t get me started on you!” She pointed an accusatory finger toward Mackenzie, who was stifling giggles at Tampa’s little outburst.
“What about me?” Mackenzie said between tiny laughs. Tampa does not seem amused.
“Oh, acting dumb, huh? I’m talking about that jumpscare!”
“I said there would be one.” George replied calmly, still working on the tower. He shrugged his shoulders once again.
“Well, yeah, but you never said Mackenzie would be the one to jumpscare me!” Mackenzie chuckles as Tampa continues to rant and rave about the ‘unfairness of the game.’
“Hey, Tampa? It’s just a game. Calm down.” Mary chimed in, petting Knife, who was sitting on Tabitha’s lap.
“It’s not just a game, Mary,” Tampa said, her voice still twinged with frustration. “I had a strategy, you know? I was totally going to win that round.” Mackenzie, still giggling, added,
“Sure, if by ‘strategy’ you mean ‘blind luck and a lot of shouting.’”
“Oh, stop!” Tampa exclaimed, rolling her eyes. Her face was flushed, strands of her auburn hair stuck to her forehead with sweat from stress. “You know I had it under control until George made me rebuild the tower!”
“Right,” George said with a smirk, finally placing the last piece on top of the newly rebuilt tower. “And what was your plan if it had all come crashing down? To scream louder?” Tampa huffed, crossing her arms just a little tighter.
“Okay, maybe that was part of it.”
“Well, now you get to go again,” Mackenzie said, leaning back and clasping her hands behind her head, a satisfied grin on her face. “Let’s see how your ‘strategy’ holds up this next round.”
“Don’t encourage her,” George said, shaking his head in mock disapproval. Tampa’s eyes narrowed in sheer annoyance.
“You guys are all such bitc-” Tampa began, her pouting being interrupted by Mrs Curtis opening the door. Mrs Curtis’s eyes flickered between the kids, one hand placed on her hip.
“Shouldn’t you all be in bed?” She asks. Mackenzie huffed. Knife hopped off of Tabitha’s lap, weaving in and out of Mrs Curtis’ legs. She looked down at the cat, confused, but chose not to question it.
“But mom-” Mackenzie started to say, before being cut off.
“Don’t ‘but mom’ me. You all need sleep.” Mrs Curtis continued. The kids groaned, but reluctantly obliged. Mrs Curtis, satisfied, smiled and walked out the door. The minute the door closed however, Tabitha smirked.
“So… who wants to play Dread?”