Check Mate

"Well, looks like we know where we're going."

"Sure does."

"Maybe we could play a game of chess? I tutor at 2 o clock."

"Sure. That's my freshman friend."

"Does she know that?"

"Yeah, I have one every year. She's a freshman, and a friend. She's a freshman friend. My freshman friend."

"Ok, just so long as she knows it. Now, how do you know her again?"

"Work."

"Ah."

"She works Fridays and Saturdays."

"And that's why she asked you if you work tonight."

"Uh huh."

"Do you?"

"I dunno."

"I'll get the chess set. The small one; we can play on the porch. I wonder who's working today."

"I'm gonna get coffee."

"Hey there Gretchen, how are ya?"

"Hello, John. I'm doin' good. And you?"

"Doin' just fine. Can we get the chess set, the little one."

"There ya are."

"Ah, can we have the the other one, we're gonna play on the porch."

"Alright, you guys are complicating my life."

"That's what we do. Gotta keep you on your toes."

"Thanks. I'll go set it up, Jake."

"Ok, I'm gonna get some coffee."

"I got the tall this time."

"I did this morning too. So. My turn?"

"Yepp."

"Well. That was stupid. What a dumb opening move."

"Ha! Yeah, that is dumb."

"I didn't mean to do that. Here, let me move my king's bishop's pawn and give you two move check mate."

"I wouldn't mind."

"Alright, well that should rectify the situation. And actually, that's not a terrible position. I may adopt that as an opening move."

Erupting from the edge of the table, a small, small voice calls for attention. It succeeds.

"Well, hello there. How can we help you?"

"I like that game." The small girl reported peering over the edge of the wrought iron and glass table.

"Do you now? You any good?"

"Yeah, i'm really good." Tilting her head back in the bravado and sureness reserved for the pure of heart. "I really like playing."

"What's it called?"

Momentarily defeated by this older boy, her self assurance skips a beat. Not all is lost however, she recovers like an old pro, avoiding the question, playing to her strong suits and recapturing the advantage. "I'm really good." She said, her gray-old soul, piercing eyes staring into Johns.

"You wanna play? Maybe you can help me beat Jacob."

"Well that's not fair."

"I need all the help I can get."

The little girl litely climbs onto the bench next to the table and reaches for the white's queen's bishop.

"Hey, how about this. You can help me, but I'll suggest a place to move a piece and then you can move it? What do you say to that?

"Ok."

"Alright, first move, take this piece, the bishop, and move it... here. Can you do that for me?"

She reaches for the bishop and moves in deftly to the desired place.

"Check."

"Hmm, good move. If you beat me it's because you had help."

"Ok, but you're still in check. Hold on, it's his turn. We need to let him take a turn."

"Look mommy! I'm playing with the boys!" The little girl belted joyfully.

"That's nice, as long as they are ok with it. What are their names, sweety."

Unable to answer, she searches her tricks for a way to avoid admitting ignorance, but is saved by her new friends.

"John."

"Jacob."

"John and Jacob!"

"And what is your name?"

"Mia."

"How old are you Mia?"

Mia held up 3 fingers in response.

"Do you have any brothers or sisters, Mia?"

She nodded yes. "One brother."

"What's his name?"

"Mark."

"How old is mark?"

"He's 4. I want that piece." She said, reaching for a rook.

"You want a rook? You can take Jacobs rook, but I'd rather you leave mine on the board."

"Here, why don't you play with those that have already been taken off the board."

"Look they're a castle," she said placing the hallow, plastic pawns atop one another, "oops, it fell down!" She took white's queen and placed it back on the board.

"I'm a fan of that."

"That's a little disconcerting."

"Can you play with them on the table?"

Smiling, she placed a pawn behind another one near black's rook.

"Why don't you put them here, on the edge."

She began placing all the pieces back on the board, white squares, black squares, showing no favoritism. John and Jacob began removing pieces and placing them back in front of her. This worked for only so long, Mia began taking immense pleasure in placing the pieces in their less than proper places. This had become the game. Her two small hands against 4 hands atleast twice the size of hers. Hers guided by the frenzy of a new game, theirs by reason and logic and a desperate attempt to salvage what had become quite an interesting game.

"Mia, can we try and keep the pieces on the side?"

This was all that was needed to bring them into the next round of action. Mia began to toss pieces onto the board, knocking several over in the process. John and Jacob abort the rescue mission and focus their efforts on preventing pieces from falling from the table to oblivion. Pawn down. Queen down. Pawn and rook in the empty icecream dish. Arms extended to net flying miniatures.

King down.

"Mia, my dear, it appears you have won.