“
Farfar had the Wii already fired up when I stepped out of the bathroom from my shower, the menu music from Mario Kart blaring from the living room TV. Koopa---the cat, not the character---was curled up on Farfar's lap in his spot at the end of the couch. One hand held his beer on top of his stomach, the other ran through Koopa's gray fur, both of their eyes closed in bliss.
I sank into the other end of the couch and grabbed my controller.
"All cleaned up and ready for your whooping?" he asked, pronouncing it, like always, with long OOs, like the crane. He raised his beer to his lips with his eyes still closed. This was probably number two already.
"Not tonight, old man. I'm in the zone, and you're looking tired."
His eyes were open then, a smirk on his face, and he produced his special blue remote---the best Lillajul gifts I'd ever gotten him---from the cushion beside him.
"Do you need to ease in with Mushroom Gorge, or are you ready to play for real?"
"I'm ready for any course you want," I said, smirking back.
He just chuckled---without the jollity he gave the guys outside C of C, I noticed---went straight to Rainbow Road, and promptly destroyed me.
Afterward, sinking back into the couch with a third beer and a number of victories under his belt, he let out a long sigh.
"You did good today, Gubben."
I smiled.
"I'm picking a new character.
”
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