“What the ruttin’ hell is that?” Jayne exclaimed.

Wash put the cap on his marker and looked back at the board he had just been drawing on. He tilted his head to one side and then to the other.

“I thought it would have been obvious,” he said “I mean, anyone could see it’s a—”

“Wash,” Zoe cut in “Dear….He’s supposed to guess. That’s the point of the game.”

“Right you are,” Wash said “Sorry, Jayne, Wifey says you have to guess.”

“Is it a brick? Mal asked, squinting.

“A log?” Kaylee chimed in, out of turn.

“I have it,” Simon said “A barrel!”

Wash shook his head three times.

“Perhaps you should clarify your drawing just a little more, son.”

Wash’s tongue stuck out of the corner of his mouth as he examined the drawing and then, with quick precision, made three vertical wavy lines above his first drawing. When he turned around, everyone was staring at him, mouths slightly agape.

“What?” he asked.

“Squiggly lines,” Simon said, a note of incredulity creeping into his voice “That’s your clarification?”

“Is it a turd?” Jayne called out.

Wash nodded in Simon’s direction and glared in Jayne’s.

“It’s a meatloaf,” River said, voice thick with boredom.

Wash smiled widely.

“That’s it!”

Jayne groaned.

“Cap’n,” he said “I vote the little witch keeps score ‘stead of the preacher. She keeps reading our gorram minds.”

“Though I’m surprised I’m saying this,” Inara said to Mal “I agree with Jayne. River’s….abilities leave us all at a slight disadvantage.”

“I’m not Reading,” River interjected “I thought I knew it, but I wasn’t resolved until he drew the heat lines. They were clarifying.”

“See?” Wash said.

“Well,” Inara said “Whose turn is it?”

“It’s my ruttin’ turn,” Jayne said.

“This oughta be interesting,” Mal whispered in Inara’s ear.

Jayne checked the board, pulled a card, and then checked the board again to make sure the color actually corresponded with the word he had just read. A disturbing grin spread across his face.

“Inter