Foolish Games

Part twenty-two of the Foolish Games series. Obviously at some point I started channeling Amz, so this is for her.

"Hey, I think Chutes and Ladders is a very valid game."

"I don't think so, Wills," Xander protested. "I mean, what are chutes anyway."

"They're like slides."

"So why isn't it called Slides and Ladders?"

"Because it's not. What's the big deal with Monopoly anyway? Oz! Oz, come tell Xander he's wrong."

Oz looked up from his comic book to Willow and Xander sitting in Giles' living-room. "Xander, you're wrong."

"Hey! You don't even know what we're talking about."

"Do ignore them, Oz," Giles said from the kitchen over his cup of tea, "they've been going at it for the better part of the hour."

Oz made a noncommittal grunt as he sat beside Willow.

"I'm going up to my room. Not that any of you care," Giles groused. "You do all realize you have your own homes, don't you?" he reminded them halfway up the stairs.

Oz stood. "Hey, could I look through your album collection?"

"We miss hanging in the library," Xander reasoned.

"Wait," Willow called, "Oz, you have to tell us who's right, me or Xander?"

"Willow's right. So, Giles--"

Xander came to his feet. "Oz! My man! What happened to male solidarity?"

"Okay, so Xander's right. Giles, abo--"

Now Willow jumped to her feet. "But Oz! You're my boyfriend!"

"Obviously I'm missing something. What're you arguing about?"

"Xander says that Monopoly is better game than Chutes and Ladders and I disagree. Who's right?"

With a shake of his head and an eye-roll, Giles went up to his bedroom.

"Monopoly or Chutes and Ladders, huh?"

Xander and Willow nodded solemnly.

"I'm actually a Barrel of Monkeys kinda man myself."

"WHAT?!"

Oz ran upstairs after the Watcher. "Giles!"

Fin[ear] (finir)