The Game

[Lord_Shadow]

((Kyle Williams: Program Opening Move.))

Qb5#

Kyle opened his eyes to clouds drifting overhead. The day was bright enough, but the clouds really made it feel like a lazy day. He regretted going outside today. It was as boring as it was being home only more so somehow. He sighed and returned his attention to the chessboard he had setup on a portable folding table. He had spent the past half hour playing a game in his head. He closed his eyes and visualized the shifting board, and wrote down each move. He had just checkmated the Black King with the trusty Queen plus Pawn support. A classic finish, even the grandmasters could agree that it was a wonderful one. Then again, Kyle couldn't help but feel that with him playing both sides, even in his head, the game was no challenge at all. He hadn't moved the physical pieces on the board in front of him at all. There was no point. If he was his own opponent it meant nothing.

"Just like everything else in the world, it holds no meaning if there is only one person doing it."

He sighed, got up, and moved to the board.

d4

He moved the White Pawn to it's opening position. In a sense, he felt like that Pawn. Always moving forward, never turning back. Ready to sacrifice its life in service of its king. Only the King was the nation, in this sense. But who were the Black Pieces? Foreigners? Enemy nations in the various wars? And if so who was the King? Kyle rustled a hand through his hair as he thought of that. It seemed every day now he thought about that. What did it matter. He was a simple Pawn, and not one of those destined for greatness. Not one who could cross the board and become a game-winning piece. He was the kind of Pawn to be thrown away and sacrificed for a tactical advantage at best. At worst he would be lost for nothing due to incompetence and lack of foresight.

"In life, we are all either Kings or Pawns." Kyle couldn't remember where he had heard that phrase. Maybe in some old movie or something. But it was true. At least, the Pawn part was. He wasn't sure if anyone in the world could really call themselves a King.

[Mimi]

** Zora Spencer, Start

It wasn’t often that Zora Spencer walked home; even less so after a cheer practice when her muscles were sore and the last thing she wanted to do was trek the mile or so to get home. Unfortunately both of her parents had been tied up, her mom busy with one of Buddy’s scout meetings and her dad away for the week hunting with a couple of his friends, which meant Zora was left to her own devices when it came to finding a way home. Initially, Felicia was her first option, but that quickly fell through when she found out the LaChapelle’s planned on going to dinner afterwards and, while invited, Zora didn’t want to intrude on their family time or be a bother. Walking home wasn’t all bad, however, even though she knew her dad would be furious if he found out she’d done so alone. It was warm, at least, with a light breeze that relieved her flushed face. And by cutting through the park, she avoided getting closer to downtown and, by extension, running into people that she didn’t want to.

Adjusting the weight of her gym bag on her shoulder, Zora kept walking, stopping only when she saw Kyle Williams playing chess against himself off to the side. She’d always considered him somewhat weird and more than a little aloof, his solo game only sparking those assumptions more. Even so, however, she felt sort’ve bad for him. It probably wasn’t much fun playing against yourself.

“Hey Kyle!” She chirped happily, quickly walking over to him, “It’s awesome out, huh?” Her eyes darted to his chessboard and, while she’d never played before, she could tell he’d been at it for a while judging by the number of pieces missing.

“Are you winning?” She asked, smiling and readjusting the bag over her shoulder again.

[Lord_Shadow]

Kyle looked up from his ongoing game to answer the inquiry made in his direction. It was a girl from school, Zora Spencer as he recalled. "Hmm? Right, it's nice enough I suppose. As for the game..."

He looked back at the board. How long had he been playing without thinking about it? Fifteen, twenty minutes? "I guess you can say I am. Not that it matters."

"What's up? What brings you to the park today Zora? Going to meet up with a friend or something?" It wasn't that he cared. He didn't. But there was no need to focus solely on himself.

Besides, this was a welcome intrusion. At least for a few minutes he could occupy his mind with something besides the game.