Shoe sat, twiddling her golden laces, thinking.

"Get on with your turn," snapped Hat. He was getting bored from waiting.

"Oh, come on Hat. We didn't hurry you," Thimble noted.

"You at least have your knitting to keep you busy."

"Prat," she replied through a big smile and hurt eyes. She hadn't bought her knitting, but she was beginning to wish she had, just so she could point the needles at him in mock threat.

Then Shoe spoke. "Iron, could I buy Lambton Quay off you for three hundred and fifty?"

"Umm, no. I'm not sure I want to sell it. But, umm, for five hundred I guess I could."

"Okay, well then." Shoe returned to her state of silent contemplation.

"I can't believe we are playing using the New Zealand edition. It's a crime against the game," Hat spat into the silence. Dog and Thimble smiled. Iron and Shoe ignored him.

"Okay, Iron, five it is."

"Five Hundred."

"Yes, and while I'm at it I'll mortgage Dee Street and buy a house each for Lambton Quay and Queen Street."

"You can't build a house the same turn you buy the street it's on," Hat barked, matter-of-fact.

"Yes you can," Thimble and Shoe chorused, blocking Dog's attempt to agree.

"Dog! Why doesn't your set have the rules," winged a somewhat irate Hat. "How hard is it not to loss the rules. Honestly……."

The new houses sitting on the board Shoe rolled. A three and a one, taking her from High Street to Kaikoura Station.

Dog smiled, "that will be two hundred bucks. I love having all the stations."

"Umm, er, well. I guess I'll have to owe you then." She looked over at him, batting her eyelashes. "And don't look at me like that. Okay I'll just mortgage, umm, Queen Street, I guess."

Then it was hat's turn. He landed on Queen Street. Shoe swore quietly. If Dog had only let her away with the little loan, she would have been able to pay him back now. Darn him.

"And, umm, just for the record. I'm not comfortable with people abbreviating fire truck around me, okay?" whispered Iron.

Everyone looked at her; no one said a thing. Though the look on Thimble's face said more than any words could.

The next move Dog landed on Taumarunui Station. Iron rolled double sixes and moved from just visiting to chance, where she got "Advance to Gladstone Road". She passed 'Go' and then paid ten dollars to Thimble for rent. She rolled again, double fours, Victoria Avenue, which she owned. Another roll, doubles twos and straight to jail.

Thimble's turn. Hotels pop-up on Palmerston Street and Mackay Street. She rolled a six and a three and moves from Princes Street to her new hotel on Palmerston. "I reckon' I owe myself two hundred and fifty dollars now." Then she giggled.

Shoe grabbed the die. A twelve takes her to Lambton Quay. She is quite glad she brought it now. She followed this through with a two and a one. "I get four hundred bucks for that thanks."

"Like hell you do," Hat shrieked back. The word 'hell' made Iron wince.

"I landed on go, that pays double."

"No, it doesn't. What dumb arse rules are you using?"

"They're the rules freak. Even if we're gonna listen to that stupid free parking fines payout crap of yours, we still have to use some of the proper rules. Like paying double pay when you land on go. For crying out loud Hat, you are such a…………….bastard."

"Oh no, little lowly Shoe called me a bastard, whatever shall I do."

"Bite me! You useless glamour accessory."

And they fought till Iron had had too much, and cried.

"Now look at what you've done." Hat stared accusingly at Shoe.

They made little attempt to hide their contempt for one another. They only tolerated each other's existence for Dog's sake.

"Just give her the four hundred and be done with it," Thimble snapped. Her usual manic grin gone and a disconcerting frown had replaced it.

The game went on. Eventually Shoe won, bankrupting everyone else with hotels she built on Queen Street and Lambton Quay.

Three days later Hat asked Shoe out. Now Shoe is an hotelier and Hat stays home with their many children, who are belts and leather gloves mostly.

Iron eventually escaped her sensibilities and now "flats" with Thimble on High Street.

Dog lives at home with his mother, where he spends his days building model railways and chewing furniture.

Matthew Robertson

11-13 April 1999