"At the flea market a few days ago, I found a board game I'd like to try. It kinda made me think of Jumanji, so I thought it might be fun. It's called Junto."
"Hoon-toe," Tina piped in.
"It's Spanish?" Amy asked.
"Yeah, it means 'together.'
We migrated downstairs to the kitchen table, and Amy opened the wooden box. She set up an intricately carved wooden game board. At first glance, it looked like a Chinese Checkers board, but with many swirling paths snaking within. In the center was a short dome of may have been quartz, but mostly resembled a four inch mood stone.
She then pulled out 6 figurines carved out of what felt like steel but looked like wood. All of them were identical and vaguely human in shape. There was a single die that appeared to be made of bone, as well.
Amy began reading the instruction engraved on the inside of the box.
"Junto - the game for friends. Learn more about your friends! Make new friends! Explore the magic of friendship!
"Junto is a game for six players. Each player chooses one figurine and starts at their own outer point of the star. Each player rolls the die, moves the number of spaces shown in along any path of adjacent spaces, and follows the directions displayed in the center. The object of the game is to reach the dome in the center. The game will not end until a winner is declared by the game. The winner will be given a chance to play a bonus game."
Each of us grabbed a figurine, and put it on the nearest start point. 6 jaws dropped at once as the stone in the center displayed "Begin" in bright green letters, and our figurines started changing.
In seconds each of our figurines looked exactly like us. Mine and Bobbi's looked very similar, except mine was slimmer and hers had red instead of blonde hair. Our matching outfits also appeared on the figurines, down to such detail that the outline of our bras showed through the tops. Jen and her figurine were wearing jeans with a New Kids on the Block baby tee. Lisa (and miniature) was wearing tight short shortsand a tank top. Tina wore a denim miniskirt with a polka-dot halter-top, and Amy, who'd spent the morning at some formal event,was decked out in a knee-length white frilly strapless dress and a tiara.
Amy went first. She rolled a...
