On Tuesday of this week, we picked-up Chinese food and broke quarantine for a rare evening with Papa and Uncle B in Los Osos. Jacob was hell-bent on a lively game of Fucillo Family Monopoly.
Now I’m fairly certain I haven’t played Jake in Monopoly since he was six. All I remember is his shrewd negotiation, relentless strategy, and his ability to mop the board with his fistfuls of paper cash. Needless to say, the kid had quite the spring in his step as we made our way to family game night.
Over dinner I ask the boys if I’ve ever shared the story with them about the first time I played Fucillo Family Monopoly… No? Well then. I have an all-male audience held captive by Chinese food. Mind you, it’s been twenty years or so, so the memory is still fresh…
I’m a sophomore in college and we’re at Nonna and Papa’s old house. Not the one they live in now. The one before that. We gather round the kitchen table for a friendly game of Monopoly with my fairly new boyfriend’s family. One minute we’re having a good time, the next minute I’m winning pretty sizably and there’s some dramatic excuse-making, and harrumphing, and I find myself alone at the table. Everyone quits before I can properly win. The board may or may not have been capsized. Nonna (aka Kathy) just shakes her head knowingly as she gives the whole kitchen table a wide berth. I tell Jake and Nate it’s a miracle I’m still here… so many years later.
We clean-up the Chinese food and set-up the board on the big Los Osos dining table. I’m nominated banker, despite having nursed a small can of sparkling rosé that may affect my mathematics. Now this is no ordinary Monopoly game. It’s made of cherry wood and felt. The hotels are pure fake gold– straight out of Mar a Lago. Nate’s the ship. I’m the shoe. Papa’s the bell. Uncle B’s the cannon. And Jacob’s the sports car. Daddy volunteers to watch and offer unsolicited advice. Hours later, Jake’s built hotels from Go to Jail– he calls it Death Row. The only bright spot’s when I land Free Parking.
I’ve never seen anyone beat the competitive Fucillo Family men so deeply into submission. Papa’s hard driving negotiations transform into easy money. Uncle B deems Jacob the Wolf of Wall Street. Everyone’s folding and he’s ready for more. I’m the last competitor standing.
Auntie Trisha FaceTimes during the game and has a remarkably similar story to mine. Though sounds like she and Brett almost broke-up afterward.
Looks like we’ve found the elusive answer to identifying when Jake’s met “the one.”
I can’t wait to watch her land Free Parking.