Sammy and Ilna, love you to the moon. REAL McRollers and Readers, thanks doesn't seem like enough, but thank you always. Thanks to Ilna for the awesome line.

The Monopoly Goat

When Steve, Catherine and the kids came into the condo with takeout bags, Elizabeth greeted them with hugs and told the kids, "The game board is all set up, we can eat first and then we can play."

"We're playing teams, right?" Angie said from where she was hugging Grandma Ang.

"Definitely teams," Catherine replied, thinking the game would drag, even with a time limit, with seven players. As she and Steve placed the bags they were carrying on the kitchen table, Joseph got drinks. "Let's eat," she said, "then it'll be game time."

After a dinner of takeout from Kamekona's, the family gathered around the dining room table, ready for game night. 'Big Monopoly' as Angie called it, as opposed to Monopoly Junior, was the game of choice and the seven year old was sifting through the game pieces in her grandparents' set, contemplating each one.

"I'll sit out and be the banker," Grandma Ang announced, setting up the money tray. "Sit next to your teammates."

"Me and Daddy, Mommy and Grandpa, DJ and Grandma, right?" Angie confirmed what they'd discussed over dinner.

"Yes, come sit with me," Steve patted the chair to his side, then smiled when his daughter plopped down on his lap. When Catherine said, "Okay, choose your pieces," he glimpsed the familiar, competitive glint in his wife's eyes before her hair fell across her face.

"Grandpa and Mommy should have the battleship," Angie declared.

"Very fitting for a brilliant reservist and a retired Navy Captain," Joseph said, leaning back in his chair with a grin for his daughter.

"Me and Daddy should get the cannon." Angie shrugged. "There's no gun or other cop stuff."

Steve kissed her cheek. "Since there's no gun, I'll settle for the cannon."

"There should be a goat piece," her brows furrowed in thought. "It would be the best piece."

"If there was a cow, it could be the 'Moo-nopoly' edition," DJ joked, knowing it would earn a round of giggles from his sister and he wasn't disappointed when she found it hysterical. "What piece should we pick, Grandma?"

"How about the dog?" Elizabeth ran a hand over Smokey's head as he passed her on his way to stretch out on the sofa.

"Awesome. We're all ready."

"I'm good at making sure everyone plays fair, but with this family, I'm not worried about cheating." Ang teased with a wink. With the board set up, they shuffled the chance and community chest cards, and she distributed the money. "May the best team win."

"Ready? Set? Go!" Angie said and the game was on.

"I'll roll first," DJ said, picking up the dice. He shook them in his hands and let them fly across the board, and beamed when he landed on Reading Railroad. "Yes! We want to buy it!"

"Smart move, sweetheart. That will earn us some income," Elizabeth encouraged.

"Just don't get too excited, you two," Steve warned, as Angie rolled for them with a flourish. "Eleven! One, two, three…" She counted out loud. "Electric Company!" She spun to Face Steve from her place on his lap. "Buy it, Daddy?"

"Buy it." He counted the money and passed it to Ang as he grinned, giving Angie a fist bump.

As the game progressed, the playful banter intensified.

"We're on our way to a monopoly," Catherine teased, watching her and her father's increasing collection of properties.

"Uh oh, watch out, everyone. The Captain and Lieutenant are on a mission!" Elizabeth laughed, "This brings back memories."

"I remember you explaining your strategy to Danny one of the first times we played with Gracie."

"You totally beat Uncle Danny and Dad," DJ's comment was a statement, not a question and she chuckled.

"That's my girl," Joseph said, leaning forward as he rolled the dice.

Catherine's tone was playful as he landed on Boardwalk. "And we'll take it for $400, please."

"And there she goes," Steve replied, shaking his head. "Just like at the academy." He looked at the kids. "People were afraid to play against your mother. She never lost."

"It's all about strategy," she grinned.

"And Mom's the best at strategy," DJ said with a head shake of his own.

"Uh oh, that's Mommy and Grandpa's and they got hotels," Angie said when DJ placed his and Elizabeth's dog piece on Boardwalk.

"Me and Grandma owe you $2000," he sighed and counted out the bills. "Your turn, Mom,"

Catherine rolled a three. "Community Chest, let's see what we get." She picked up the card and read aloud. "You've won a beauty contest! Collect $10."

"No surprise there." Steve grinned at his wife as Angie agreed, "Because Mommy's the prettiest lady in the world."

"Aww, thank you, baby girl," Catherine beamed at her daughter.

"Our turn!" Angie exclaimed. She tossed the dice and squealed when they landed on her and Steve's property. "We own that one so we don't have to pay," she said with a grin. "But I think we'd be winning if we had a goat piece." she added.

"We're going to have to make a goat piece for the next game," Steve kissed her head.

"Yay! A Monopoly goat!" She clapped her hands together.

Since the game was set at two hours, they were drawing to a close.

"Okay, last turn for us," Steve said, rolling the dice with a determined expression. "Five." He moved his piece and groaned. "And back on your property," he said to Catherine and Joseph.

"Pay up, sailor," Catherine replied, chuckling at his expression.

"At least it's not real money," DJ declared, "We'd all be broke except for Mommy and Grandpa."

"Alright, here we go, time to bring it home," Catherine said, rolling the dice again. When she landed on one of Steve and Angie's properties, her eyes narrowed playfully. "Here you go." She turned to DJ. "Last roll, sweetheart."

"Seven! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven — Chance!" He picked up the card, reading aloud. "Advance to Go. Collect $200, but Mom and Grandpa totally won."

"And the winners of the night… Catherine and Joseph!" Grandma Ang clapped her hands. "Congratulations, you two."

Steve congratulated the winners and high fived the kids when they did the same. "We'll get 'em next time."

"We didn't win but it was still so fun!" Angie exclaimed, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

"It was," DJ said, nodding. "Game night always is."

"Absolutely." Elizabeth agreed, glancing around the table. "Who's ready for ice cream sundaes?"

Catherine grinned when Joseph and Steve raised their hands with the kids. "Great game, everyone. You kept me and Grandpa on our toes."

"Next time, it's Clue or Pictionary, so we all stand a chance," Steve teased. Standing to help Elizabeth in the kitchen, he bent to peck Catherine's lips as he passed her chair.

"And next time we play Monopoly, we'll make the goat piece, right, Daddy?" Angie said as she stood to follow her grandma into the kitchen.

"Right, baby girl. Although I don't think even a Monopoly goat can beat your mommy."

Angie giggled. "That's cause Mommy is the Monopoly G.O.A.T."

# END Thanks for Reading

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