Nothing went as planned.
Attempting to scare a room full of kids lead to an outcome we couldn't have predicted. We should have. Shane's unwavering doubt in our abilities and the humours nature of the task lead us into a false sense of security.
The evening progressed as to be expected. Once all the attendees had arrived Mary made a - much too long, not needed and downright boring - announcement and the activities commenced. Those on the 'livelier side' were scheduled first in an attempt to tire us out, before progressing into a bible read and then movie. The hope was that the soft noise and calmer atmosphere would lull most people to sleep, making the night easier for the volunteers.
The attendees were split into groups so we could play some games. Each volunteers managed their own group, and the more senior members patrolled the room, handed out games and aided where necessary. It was controlled 'fun'.
Friends were allowed to be placed together as long as they behaved, and the groups were relatively even.
One of the only volunteers I liked found us huddled in the back corner. Abbie sent us a sheepish smile as she plopped down within our circle, Dobble visible in her hands, held out to us like a peace offering. Abbie was one of the younger volunteers at only 22 and this was her first year helping out. She was training to be a high school teacher and thought the situation - monitoring and controlling a large group of youngsters - would offer some useful experience.
I didn't understand why anyone would want to surround themselves with angsty teenage on the daily, but who was I to judge.
Abbie had been a friend of mine for a few years now. When my brothers stopped attending Church events they became tiresome and lonely. Thankfully Abbie approached my sullen self one day and we grew closer ever since.
"Do you guys actually want to play, or just sit around and pretend?"
One thing I liked about Abbie was that she understood. She was always good at reading people's expressions and mannerisms in a way that I envied. There was something maternal about her, an innate desire to nurture and care regardless of one's age. I suppose that's why we were so close; comfort and love was something I sought, and she so freely gave.
"What did you bring?" Shane asked, eying the box in her hand cautiously.
"It's Dobble. I thought it was one of the better options."
"I say we play, may as well give it a go." Sometimes I needed a break from talking. My social battery didn't last long, its life span had decreased significantly over the years and now even simple conversations drained me.
I tried to persevere, but a battery can only last for so long.
"Okay, but someone needs to explain what to do."
Abbie smiled happily at our agreement and began explaining the rules. There was more than one way the card game could be played, all slight variations of the same, and she suggested we start with the most used one to familiarise ourselves with the concept.
"Easy right?" She questioned once explaining the rules. Marcus and Shane looked sceptical but agreed that after having a go they would pick it up. They did.
After playing a practice round we made it more of a competition â first to three. The problem with that was both Abby and Shane were fiercely competitive and soon our quiet corner became loud and rowdy.
"I was first!" Shane exclaimed when Abbie placed her card down. "Wait, wait!" He carried on when we continued to play despite his outcry and subsequent protests. The game was about speed and this cost him. He fumbled to get back in the game, but by that time had already lost.
"Ah-ha. Suck it." I cheered in victory.
"No, I won't have it. There's cheating going on here. She," Shane pointed his finger in Abbie's direction, "is cheating."
Abbie smirked in his direction, not put off by his glare, and retorted, "She's the cat's mother."
"That saying doesn't even make sense!" Shane huffed, throwing his arms up in aggravation.
"I wasn't even the one who won that round."
"I don't care, you're the cheater."
"You just hate that you're losing to a girl." I didn't want to point out that I was also two up so there was a chance the victory would be mine. If they assume I'm not a threat then the win will be so much more satisfactory.
"I'm not sexist, your gender has nothing to do with it." Shane assured. "You're going down Abigail. I will relish in your defeat. Watch me win."
Abbie scoffed in response as she reshuffle the deck then dealt out the cards. "We'll see."
The silence that ensued when I placed my final card down and exclaimed Dobble first was humorous. Both Abbie and Shane wore looks of disbelief and anger while Marcus smiled and congratulated me.
As if a flip had switched, the two began arguing over the outcome, huffing in outrage, and demanding a rematch.
"You guys are such sore losers." Marcus said in amusement, shaking his head at their antics.
They carried on bickering before I interrupted, collecting the cards, and moving them out of reach. "Okay," the elongated word expressing my faux annoyance with their behaviour, "no more card games for us."
"No more games in general." Marcus chimed in.
"But-" The two culprits exclaimed together.
"No buts," I scolded like a parent to a misbehaving child, "behave."
Once their complains settled down and they reluctantly congratulated me on my success, we settled into a calmer atmosphere. Easy conversation flowed around the group; our now quiet voices barely audible over the chatter in the room. The Church's high ceilings made the sounds reverberate, becoming lost in the empty space above before echoing back.
"We'll carry on for another hour. If you've finished with your game come and swap it for another, there's a few good one's that haven't been used yet." Mary said, her loud voice easily rising over the endless noise. "Trivial Pursuit. Articulate. Scrabble. Such classics!" Her voice trailed off as she began commenting on the lack of taste of our generation's game choices.
"I don't know why she's surprised no one want to play those. What I am surprised about is why anyone would pick Monopoly." Shane's voice cut through the silence that befell upon us.
"I love Monopoly." I wasn't sure if Abbie actually liked Monopoly or just wanted to disagree with Shane.
"But it's so long." Marcus commented drawing out the words long for added effect.
"Monopoly has the ability to destroy friendships and tear family apart."
"That's all part of the fun. The tensions, the drama, the unpredictability. It's anyone's game."
I felt the need to point out, "With how competitive you are, I'm not sure Monopoly is the right game for you."
"It has caused many arguments." Abbie admitted, reluctantly agreeing with Shane's earlier comment. "My family actually banned it a few years ago. We're all pretty competitive and it got way out of hand."
Abbie then detailed the events that lead to her family donating their Monopoly board and walking on eggshells around each other for a week. My parents wouldn't allow us to play Monopoly because it promoted greed, yet they enjoyed Cluedo.
Their ideals were subjective.
"So, Abbie," Shane started, "how would you feel about helping us scare everyone."
Abbie contemplated that for a moment. "You realise I'm here as a chaperone. I'm meant to prevent things like this from happening, not aid in them. If I know and I don't tell Mary then I'll get in trouble."
Shane's eyes widened then, his expression a pleading one.
"It's such a shame that it's so loud in here and I can't hear very well." Abbie said with a smirk. "There also happens to be an entrance in the cupboard behind the kitchen that leads downstairs to the fuse box that can be used to turn off all the lights. Completely random information that is of no use to anyone at all. I'm going to re-join the volunteers now, see you boys later."
With that Abbie stood up, gave us all a final smile and wave, before heading towards the front of the Church to chat with some of the other volunteers who had either left their groups or were not assigned one in the first place.
"Did I even mention how much I love Abbie." Marcus said after we all watched her leave.
Shane rolled his eyes, "You say you love everyone. It starts to lose its meaning after a while."
"I'm getting in the Christian spirit."
"You're an atheist." I reminded.
"Shh," Marcus begun waving his hands around and daring his eyes around the room like a mad man, "not so loud. They could hear you."
"They?"
"Religious people." He said in a whisper. Shane and I laughed at his antics.
"Okay," Shane elongated the word, a smile still on his lips in amusement, "let's get back to the task at hand boys."
Shane proceeded to inform us of his super amazingly brilliant plan â his words â and we set off. It was easy enough; we would first turn flip the switch that controlled the lights. The basement it was situated in ran underneath the main chapel where everyone was congregated, so we would then make some noise in the hopes it was loud enough to reach upstairs.
We were operating under a time crunch, so, since there were three of us, one would find the right switch and flip it while the others began making subtle noises - it shouldn't be obvious the sounds were made by people. Everything needed to be done before someone came downstairs.
We needed to be out before there was a chance of us getting caught. Shane suggested jamming the door slightly, not enough that it got completely stuck, only difficult to open. Then we would create a ruckus upstairs before re-joining the group. Queue our incredible acting skills.
No one would know.
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A/N
So, my chapters are pretty long? I think that's better, but let me know. I also have no publish schedule. I don't know if people would prefer that, or if me putting them out whenever I've wrote them is better?
What is your family like when playing board games?
Thankfully my family aren't really competitive so Monopoly isn't banned. Actually, Christmas just gone my Dad decided we should take a shot every time someone rolled a double, 'to spice it up'. Well, a surprising amount of doubles got rolled and a lot of shots drunk.