Episode 14: Monopoly game
A year has passed and the puppies have really adapted to their environment in Adventure City, starting from playing in the city park, go to Paws Paradise on the weekend, and even helping Jerony complete various missions with their unique set of skills.
The Pups Gang had grown closer than ever, and their bond was unbreakable.
One day, it was a rainy Saturday morning.
Usually, when Saturday is coming, the puppies would go to the Paws Paradise, but because of the heavy rain, they decided to stay home. At that time, The Pups Gang was on the second floor balcony, watching every drop of rain hit the ground, making pitter-patter sounds.
Svara sighed and then she said, "rain, rain and rain... If only it didn't rain this morning, we can have so much fun at Paws Paradise."
"Yeah... But, we can still have fun here, right?" Luna turned to face the group, trying to change the mood as she looked at the rain with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"That's true... How about we play a... Um... We... Play..." Anna looked around, her eyes searching for an indoor activity that could match their usual outdoor adventures.
"How about playing some games in the playroom?" Seca suggested, his eyes lighting up at the thought of the indoor games they had yet to explore.
"We've done it almost every day, silly," Lynna's pup-tag translated her whine into words, her tail swishing back and forth as she looked at Seca.
"Then... How?" Maxtone's voice was hopeful, his tail wagging slightly.
"If my leaky little Hershell were here, he could suggest a fun game... But unfortunately, he was accompanying Master to the minimarket," Anna said, looking at her watch "but, wait! I've got an idea!"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she rushed downstairs to the living room. The other puppies followed her curiously, their tails wagging with anticipation. Anna rummaged through a box of old toys that Jerony had bought for them when they were still lived at Indonesia.
"Ah-ha!" she exclaimed, holding up a board game with a picture of cities around the world on the cover.
"How about we play monopoly, just like when we were still living in Indonesia?" Anna suggested, her eyes glinting with excitement.
The other pups looked at each other, their tails wagging with the thought of playing a game that they had not played in a long time.
"Of course!!!" The other puppies barked in unison, their excitement palpable as they gathered around the board.
Anna then opened the box, the familiar scent of plastic and cardboard filling the room as she began setting up the game. The pieces were a mix of different animals: houses, hotels, and the game tokens were all in the shapes of their favorite treats.
The board was laid out on the plush carpet, the rain outside providing a serene backdrop to their indoor adventure.
"Okay, each pups get 100.000 dollars, or I mean, rupiah... Hehehe, I forgot the currency in this monopoly game is rupiah," Anna said with a chuckle, handing out the colorful paper bills to her friends.
They each took their share, their tails wagging eagerly as they chose their tokens.
"Who will roll the dice first?!" Svara barked, her tail wagging with excitement as she picked out a shiny bone token.
"I'll go first," Maxtone offered, his voice filled with excitement as he picked up the dice with his mouth.
He gave it a shake before dropping it onto the board. It clattered against the plastic before coming to a stop.
"Finally, six!" Maxtone exclaimed, dropping the dice and trotting over to place his bone token on the board.
After playing for almost fifteen minutes, each puppy had their own property. The sound of rain tapped against the balcony windows, adding a cozy touch to their game.
Seca had bought most of the industrial areas, Luna was building a hotel empire in the blue neighborhoods, and Svara had a monopoly on the railroads, leaving Maxtone to focus on the green and yellow properties.
Maxtone rolled the dice again, his eyes wide as they landed on an orange space.
"Oh no... Not again," he whined, his tail dropping between his legs.
"Ahahaha... You're going to jail again, Maxtone!" Svara teased, her tail wagging with mischief as she watched him land on the "Go to Jail"
"Aaahhh!!! This is the four times I've gone to jail!" Maxtone whined, his ears drooping as he placed his token on the jail space.
"I only have five hundred rupiah left, I guess... My money won't be enough to get me out of jail this time," Maxtone said dejectedly, his ears drooping even more.
Without them knowing, Jerony and Hershell had returned from the minimarket. Jerony crept towards them and then quietly knelt beside Maxtone.
"How much money do you need right now, Maxtone?" He whispered into the pup's ear.
Maxtone shocked, "Master?!" He looked up to see Jerony with a mischievous smile, holding a pack of treats.
"Looks like you all played our game while still living in Indonesia," Jerony chuckled, holding out the pack of treats as a peace offering. "But, don't worry, I've got something to make sure everyone can stay in the game."
Maxtone's ears perked up as he took the treat, his eyes sparkling with gratitude.
"Thanks, Master," he murmured, munching on the snack as he studied the board.
"Puppies... Don't you realize, there is a 'chance' card that can free you from the jail?" Jerony said, winking at Maxtone.
The pups' ears perked up at the sound of their master's voice, their eyes glinting with hope.
Maxtone's tail started wagging again as he looked at the "chance" pile.
"Maybe I can get a 'Get out of Jail Free' card!" he exclaimed, his spirits lifting.
"Let's see," Jerony said, picking up the top card and reading it out loud. "You have been a good boy, roll the dice and get the number six or four on the dice to be free from jail."
"Yeah, Maxtone... Roll the dice and get out of jail," Luna said encouragingly, her tail wagging in excitement as she watched her friend.
"Okay, I hope I won't regret this," Maxtone murmured to himself, picking up the dice again with his mouth.
He took a deep breath, rolled the dice, and watched as they bounced across the board. The room was silent, the only sound the pattering of rain outside.
"C'mon... Six or four," Maxtone whispered to the dice as they spun through the air and bounced off the board.
They came to rest, and everyone leaned in to see the result.
"Four!" Lynna's pup-tag squealed, her tail wagging uncontrollably. "You're free, Maxtone!"
The puppies then clapping their paws together, their tails wagging in a blur as they congratulated Maxtone on his lucky roll.
"Yeeeaaaahhh!!!! Finally!!!!" Maxtone exclaimed as he picked up his bone token and moved it back to the previous space, feeling relieved.
The game continued, each pup strategizing and trading properties, their barks and howls of excitement echoing through the house.
Even, Jerony also joining in the fun by occasionally whispering hints to his furry companions.
A few hours later, the rain finally stopped. Jerony and the puppies were seen relaxing in the backyard, by the swimming pool. The sun had started to peek through the clouds, casting a warm glow over the wet landscape.
"What should we do now?" Luna asked, her eyes scanning the backyard.
The rain had left puddles here and there, but the sun was shining brightly, hinting at a warm afternoon.
"I don't know, it's already 10 o'clock," Jerony said, checking his watch. "But, since the rain stopped, how about a quick swim before we have lunch?"
"I don't feel like swimming right now," Svara said, stretching her legs out.
"Me too," the other puppies chimed in, still panting from their intense game of Monopoly.
