Hollow | BxBxBxB

-4- Crisps

"I suspect, Professor Plum, in the library, with the dagger" Mrs Johnson stated glancing between her two sons in anticipation. Harry quickly flashed her one of his cards but Connor didn't have any of the ones she'd guessed so he shook his head. They were playing clue.

The day had gone by quite uneventfully after his earlier outing. He'd managed to have a nap and skip tea as well without any poor reactions from his household. They were now just sat around the table with the board game in front of them having a chill but slightly competitive family game night.

"I suspect, Colonel Mustard, in the kitchen with the rope" Harry broadcasted confidently, Connor glanced down at his cards a small smile forming on his face, he had all three of those. In order to keep Harry inside the wrong room for as long as possible he showed the rope card to his older brother.

Noticing his little brothers wry smile Harry spoke up. "So you have multiple of those cards Connor. You can't lie to save your life" Harry commented teasingly.

"No I don't!" Connor insisted indignantly as Mrs Johnson scoffed. It was true, sometimes Connor could be an absolutely dreadful liar. Other times he could be world class. Especially when it mattered a lot, which in this case the stakes were only a simple board game. So it didn't matter much at all. However when the stakes were high Connor could sometimes pull out good lying skills from somewhere within his anxious brain.

Connor rolled the dice moving his piece into the billiard room. As he paused to think his gaze fixed on the bowl of crisps at the end of the table. They'd all been snacking on them whilst playing but Connor was yet to have one. Sighing he shook his head then spoke. "I suspect Professor Plum, in the billiard room with the lead pipe" he said.

His mom flashed him the billiard room card whilst Harry showed him the professor plum card. Overall that had been a successful roll of the dice helping him narrow down both the room and the suspect.

Rain was pounding on the roof and windowsills a sharp contrast to the weather that morning. It was like the heavens were opening up now creating a calming atmosphere in the dimly lit dining room.

Connor gave the bowl of crisps another glance his stomach letting out a small growl. They looked so nice. They were salt and vinegar, Connor's favourite flavour.

"Pay attention, Connor love" Mrs Johnson said tapping the table gently her nail creating a sharp scraping noise as it made contact with the furnished wood.

"Sorry. What did you say?" Connor asked sheepishly hoping that no one had seen where his attention had turned to.

"I said professor plum, in the conservatory, with the spanner" Mrs Johnson repeated patiently. She had always been quite patient with Connor from a young age, which he appreciated more than she knew.

Connor hastily flicked through his cards quickly identifying he had the conservatory card so showing her that one.

His mother nodded her head noting down what he'd showed her then handing the dice to Harry. Out of the blue Connor reached for the bowl of crisps. His hands stopped halfway in the air as his brain caught up to what he was doing, but it was too late now. Everyone else at the table had seen him. There was no backing out of it now. Gingerly he gripped a small sized crisp retracting his arm and staring at it.

Harry rolled the dice making a loud bang on the table as they slid across the surface. He'd rolled a 1 and a 4, so 5 overall. Which was not enough to get anywhere with. He moved his figure deftly along the corridor in the direction of another room before letting go running out of steps.

Connor placed the crisp in his mouth beginning to chew it. It felt like all eyes were on him as he chewed then swallowed. It tasted so good, he'd forgotton how good this flavour of crisps was. He'd also forgotten how much he missed eating properly.