Parenting a teenager was more of a challenge than either Ethan or Holden had expected it to be. It wasn’t a surprise given that Evie very clearly took after Ethan. But it was still an ever changing back and forth that they hadn’t expected.

Today, much like yesterday and the day before, music poured from under the doorway of the now 14 year old’s bedroom. There was the sound of shuffling across carpet and drawers being opened and shut before more shuffling was heard. He waited a second longer to knock finally. “Evie, we’re playing games in the lounge if you want to join. Aunty Elaina is over too.”

The teen grinned. “Cards Against Humanity?” Ethan chuckled in response. “I think dad was hoping for Tokaido.” He watched her pout and shrug. “Finnne.” She grabbed her phone and followed him down the hallway.

They came across Holden standing in front of the shelves that held their board and card games. He was moving things around in an effort to find the one thing he was searching for.

Evie snuck behind him and poked his shoulder. “Dad!” Holden jumped and started laughing when he realised who it was. “Blimey! I wasn’t expecting anyone there.” She hugged him suddenly and he gave her a squeeze. “Can we play Cards Against Humanity instead of a board game tonight?” Her face shifted into the best pout and Ethan knew before Holden reacted that he was going to give in easy. It was rare that Holden had ever told her no. “That sounds good.” He finally responded. “I just saw it,” he turned to examine the shelf again. “Here it is.”  He held the box out towards Ethan and Ethan took it to carry towards the table.

Elaina came in with a tray full of snacks and cans of soda. “I bring junk food!” She set everything on the table and snacks were passed around while Ethan shuffled the deck of cards to try and mix things up. Once everyone was settled in he passed out the cards to each player.

A black card was placed on the table. “It’s dangerous to go alone! Take ____!” He would be the judge for the first round.

Quiet laughter was heard as the other three looked over the white cards in their hands. Finally when all the white cards were set in the middle Ethan picked them up.

“A man named Edward Cocaine.” He read from the first card. “The shy kid in the corner.” Read the second. “Nicolas Cage.” Read the last one. He figured that one was probably from Holden.

Finally deciding on his answer he laughed and put the winning card down. “A man named Edward Cocaine.” It wasn’t that he didn’t like the other cards but that one made the least amount of sense.

Evie did a little wiggle in her seat. “Yes! I got it!” She gathered the remaining cards and set them aside. “Who had the others?” She asked.

“I was the shy kid.” Holden said. Everyone looked over at him. “I thought you had Nicolas Cage.” Ethan laughed. “Nope! It was me Han.” Elaina waved her card in his direction so he could see it.

A phone buzzed and the whole ground looked at their phones to see if it was them before realising the alert was coming from Evie’s phone. She was grinning at the phone like someone had just told the best joke ever created.

“Who’s that?? Your boyfriend??” Elaina nudged her niece’s shoulder.

The teenager looked like she wanted to hide now. “No...”

“Girlfriend???” Elaina asked again.

“Just a friend!” Evie declared. “Just a friend. It’s nothing. No one... Anyway. My turn!” She put a new black card down in an attempt at changing the subject. “In the early days, many people compared Muse to ___.” She spoke loud enough that she had everyone’s attention but no one was moving.

Ethan and Holden exchanged glances from across the table and Elaina made an effort to sneak the phone from Evie. Finally the teenager groaned. “It’s just a friend!!!”

There was no further attempts to pry for more information for the remainder of the game but Ethan made a mental note to bring it up to Holden when they went to bed later.

 

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