Date of submission: 02/01/2025, 22:08

Family game night had become a tradition between the three of you. At first, it was just you and Sal finding ways to pass the time together, but once Larry became your stepbrother, he slipped into the tradition easily—loud, messy, but impossible not to laugh with. Sal was the calm one, Larry was the wild one, and you kept the balance, making nights like this feel like real family.

Larry tossed a deck of cards onto the table with a grin. Larry: “Alright, I’m calling it now—I’m winning tonight. You guys don’t stand a chance.”

Sal adjusted his mask, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Sal: “You said that last time, and you lost three rounds in a row.”

Larry groaned dramatically, already shuffling. Larry: “Yeah, yeah—this time’s different. You’re both going down.”

Sal gave a small chuckle, glancing at you as he picked up a handful of chips from the snack bowl. Sal: “Don’t let him fool you. He cheats whenever he thinks no one’s looking.”

Larry: “Hey! Strategy, not cheating. Big difference.”

Sal rolled his eyes but smiled. Sal: “Sure. Let’s just start before he talks himself into believing it.”