Game Night

A knocking is heard on the wooden front door and immediately met by jubilation. The man sitting inside had been planning to have his friends over for a game night, a tradition they all started recently after they had all started their careers. The gang had been friends ever since they were kids, and decided a good way to stay in touch and hang out would be this monthly game night. All their worries, stresses would be quelled by such. The man opens the door and notices his friend Steve behind it with drinks and chips.

“Ready to give me all your money tonight loser?” Steve says with a boastful smile and steps into his old friend's home.

“Yeah yeah. Thanks for bringing beer.” The man responds.

“Of course Tom, can’t have a game night without it. He explains as he places the drinks and chips in the dining room by a gigantic poker table that they will all play later.

“How’ve you been? Hope you’ve been getting better at poker since last time.” Steve joked, he has always been the prideful one of the group as things typically came easy to him in life. He was a great athlete in his hay days, always the ladies man with his wickedly charming smile and confidence. Luckily, he even landed a job as a sports agent.

“Still an asshole aren’t ya? Any words from the others? I know Brian has had it rough lately?” Tom asked as the two crashed down on the couch after taking two beers from one of the six packs Steve brought.

They had some worries over their friend Brian who had come across tough times as of late. He had been let go from his job due to stacking health issues forcing him to miss days. Brian had always been dealing with some issues with his health, but the group of friends have always been there supporting him however they can.

“He seems a little better as of late. I’m sure tonight will be a good change of scenery for him. For all of us, as it usually is. I’m sure he will be okay though.” Steve let out a sigh as he began to anxiously rub at his leg. The subject made him a little uneasy, for all of his confidence, he often struggled to find the words to help Brian through his struggles.

Another knock was heard at the doc followed by ineligible yelling behind it. Without even checking Tom already knew it was a few of their friends that may or may not have already had a bit to drink. Tom headed for the door once more to greet his friends and behind it he found Brian with the other friend of their group, Patrick.

“Good, gang's all here. I think it’s time for some poker!” Brian says excited and steps inside quickly to see Steve, the two begin joking around with one another but Tom is interested in what Patrick had brought. He was holding a white box.

“What’s in the box?” Tom asked.

“I brought cake, we missed Steve’s birthday last week so, I don’t know, I thought why not.” Patrick explained as he stepped in and placed the cake in the kitchen.

“A little weird to bring to a poker game, but I don’t think anyone would really complain.” Tom chuckled as the two stepped inside grabbed drinks and made small talk catching up with one another.

The whole gang met up in the dining room and huddled around the poker table all catching up and poking fun at each other. All of Brian’s worries about his stomach issues had begun to fade and his self confidence had steadily been rising as the night went on among his friends. Patrick quickly was properly drunk and making a fool of himself but, he welcomed it as he was also becoming the butt of every joke from his friends. Patrick was a bit heavier set but had a heart of gold. After a bit of revelry, Tom begins the poker game.

“How much am I gonna take from all of you this time?” Steve boasts once again.

“You never quit do you? You won last month and that was it.” Brian responds as he collects his cards while Tom deals.

The group continues to play with no one man really gaining an edge over another, just an endless stalemate as the beers continue to dwindle. Brian reaches for a beer and the entire group looks concerned.

“Should you? Or is that bad with everything you’ve got going on?” Tom asks, concerned for his friend as normally Brian can’t participate in drinking alcohol with his various stomach issues. Brian looks at Tom with a perplexed look.

“I’ll be okay Dad.” He responds with a faint smile.

“Hey, just checking.” Tom mutters under his breath.

Brian notices the room, and how everyone is a bit uneasy and cautiously watching him. He knows it is all out of concern and care but shrugs it off. The game continues after the momentary pause of concern. Steve begins to take piles of chips much like he did the previous month from Patrick and Tom leaving just he and Brian left to play for all the money. The money is inconsequential to all of them as it is really all about the fun and well, for Steve lately it has been about bragging rights. Patrick on the other hand begins to open the box holding the cake inside. He gestured toward Steve.

“Happy belated birthday by the way Steve.” Patrick paused to take a bite out of the decadent chocolate cake. “I hope it was as memorable as my poker skills.” He finished and got a chuckle out of the room as he was making fun of himself.

“It was just another day, as it tends to be at our age now. Not like it was back in college.” He shrugged as he looked at his cards after another deal from Tom.

“Hey, could I have a piece?” Brian asked as his eyes wouldn’t come off his cards nor the cards on the table. He was laser focused in an attempt to best Steve. He didn’t want to have to listen to another month of Steve’s boasts via the group chat the gang had participated in.

“Beer and cake? You sure bud?” Steve cracks an uneasy smile and takes a moment to look away from the game.

Brian slams his fist down onto the table in anger and rubs his hand through his hair looking irritated at his friends. He takes a deep breath, and grabs the cake from Patrick. The group looks shocked as Brian doesn’t usually, if ever have an outburst like that. They realize they may have overstepped in their worry for a friend.

“Listen I’m sorry, we just know you’ve had some struggles. It may not be our place, but it’s just a concern. Don’t feel peer pressured or something ridiculous by the fact that we are drinking or something as stupid as eating cake for a belated birthday.” Tom explains. He has usually been the friend that has been there for Brian in his worst moments.

“I get it, but I know myself. Now can we continue or are we gonna keep babying me.” Brian defuses the tension in the air with a light hearted smile as he diverts the attention back to the game at hand. “Cuz, not for nothing, I would really like to take Steve’s money. I think we all grew tired of his shenanigans lately.” He continued and drew a light amount of laughter from all.

The game continued on and to many’s surprise, Brian was steadily winning. Brian had finished his slice of cake and began to cough once he won a big pot on a big hand he had over Steve. Brian had won the game, and rights to bragging over everyone for the month. Everyone, minus Steve, began to celebrate for Brian, but he continued to cough harder and harder.

“Looks like we are gonna have a new winner this month, but man...you okay?” Patrick asks once again concerned for his friend.

“Real quick…” Brian responds and pauses as he tries to catch a breath in between coughs. “Were there peanuts in that cake?”

Immediately the complexion on Steve, Tom and Patrick drops in fear that something horrible is happening to their friend. His coughing fit isn’t brought on by winning the game, but instead an allergic reaction. No one knew he was allergic to peanuts, Brian had never in all of their years of hanging out with one another mentioned anything of the like. Tom rushed up to the kitchen unsure of what to do, thinking a glass of water might be the right course of action. Tom could feel his heart almost bursting out of his chest as he was so terrified of what might be happening. In that moment he heard a thud behind him, and he had stopped breathing himself. He didn’t even have to turn around to know what had happened. He didn’t hear anymore coughing. Just Patrick and Steve yelling Brian’s name.

“Call 911 now!” Steve yells out in a panic. Patrick panics to find his phone, and in his panic he didn’t even notice his phone was right in front of him on the poker table. The entire group just feels as if the entire moment had slowed down to a halt in fear and panic. Tom finds his own phone and begins to dial, while Steve is hunched over Brian trying to bring him back by simply talking to him. The moment quickly changed from elation to somber in light of Brian.

In an instant, the fear, the paranoia and silence is broken by a chuckle. Steve’s cries change to that of confusion. Brian sits up wiping away tears from laughing. He surveys the room and sees all of his friends with empty and confused looks. He knew in that second, not only did he have bragging rights for winning the game but he also got them with an evil prank. He was perfectly fine, just messing with them for all of their worry.

“April fools?” Brian jokes.