Snakes and ladders

It’s a tradition that me and my friends have been doing for years. One day when we were in highschool we got bored of the usual video games, deciding to return back to the classics we played a one of game of cluedo. That one of game became another the week after, so now every week on a Thursday night we go to one of our houses and play a board game. It doesn’t matter what board game, it just matters who is playing. This week it was my turn, I had found quite an interesting looking game at the charity shop a few days ago and felt like it would be perfect for today. Setting it up on the table it looked like any other snakes and ladders game, first to tile 100 and 4 different colours of tiles.

The first one to arrive was Hannah. Being the oldest out of the 4 of us, she often took on the role of a matriarch. 5’11 she was particularly tall for a woman, long black hair with a fringe cutting across her forehead that framed her incredibly beautiful face perfectly, her dark brown eyes stare deeply and powerfully into whoever taker her ire. Often adorning her beautiful and athletic frame with her intense gothic style. She was in all instances the most beautiful woman alive. The only issue, she’s a lesbian. That very much matters for me a 5’10, skinny and frale man with short brown scruffy hair, brown unassuming eyes and an annoyingly feminine face.

“Hey, welcome as usual you are early. Do you mind helping me finish setting up. I just have the food to finish plating up.” She follows me inside and too the kitchen before helping me with the rest of my food. I had ordered some sushi. A particular favourite of mine and had made a portion of chicken katsu curry for everyone.

After carrying the dishes to the table the other two arrive. It wasn’t unexpected that they would show up together considering they live with each other. Originally it was just Aaron who lived in the two bedroom apartment, having bought it with money his parents had lent him. Academically and financially he was gifted. Rich parents and a expensive education to thank for that. However like me he had always struggled looks wise. A shy man with medium length blonde hair, muted blue eyes that almost look gray he stand at 5’7 and is skinny except where it hurts, His ass was surprisingly fat and was definitely his biggest insecurity. All through school he was bullied by his peers for being androgynous who is ultimately how he found us. More specifically Jane. Jane and him had met at a park one day, he was crying on a bench after a very rough day of bullying and Jane had gone over to comfort him. She often did this, I’ve always assumed it’s because she was trans and her family weren’t very supportive so she sort out to support others as a coping mechanism. They had really bonded that they and have developed a very beautiful friendship. Which meant that when Jane got kicked out by her parents, Aaron immediately offered her a place at his home. And much to Jane’s surprise Aaron’s parents loved the idea so much they started giving Aaron more money to help expenses. Jane was incredibly supportive to us all, 6’0 with long red hair, like Hannah she was alternative but never called herself goth ‘because I don’t want to insult actual goths like Hannah.’ Blue eyes that shine kindness and a hint of dominance. She’s the only one of us to have actually had a partner so far. Which is kinda embarrassing considering we are 21 but her relationship fell through because he was too clingy and jealous of Jane’s friendship with Aaron. After opening the door we exchange the usual polite conversation before all making our way to the table. Whilst I had gone to get the door Hannah had finnished setting everything up and so we all sat down. I was on the left of the table, Jane sat opposite me on the right, Aaron sat at the bottom of the table and Hannah sat to my right at the top of the table.

“Okay so I’ve had a look for the rules of the game but there doesn’t seem to be any.” The slight frustration in my voice evident, not everyone is as upset as me but considering how many times I have to remind people of the rules it was annoying not to have them on hand. “Although the game looks like a bog standard game of snakes and ladders, but we have to draw a card depending on the colour we land on.” Handing out the 4 games pieces. Hannah chooses to be black, Aaron chooses the almost pastel yellow, Jane chooses red to match her hair which leaves me with pink. “I’ll go first.” Jane says before picking up the dice and rolling it.