“Take a seat. I’ll get the board,” she said looking over her shoulder.
Aiden couldn’t help but notice the sway in her hips when she sauntered away.
He sat in the armchair and watched as his mother returned setting down a finely carved wooden box with a marbled chess board inlay. As Evelyn sat in the chaise lounge, mother and son pulled out two drawers hidden in the siding and began to remove the chess pieces from felt-lined cubbies. Both players set their figurines in their proper places until the board was prepped and ready.
Evelyn reached out and took a single pawn from each side; one black and one white.
“You ready?” she said as she put her hands behind her back and swapped the pieces.
Aiden nodded. She brought out both hands, each hiding a pawn curled up in her fist.
“You pick, my love.”
He looked back and forth between the two, knowing well that a pawn was hidden in each. The only question was which one held which color. He tapped her right hand.
Aiden watched his mother smile as she turned her hand over and opened her fist to reveal… nothing.
“Mom…” Aiden groaned as he rolled his eyes. “We still doing this?”
“What?” Evelyn gasped and then looked at her empty palm. “That’s so odd! I swore it was there a moment ago. Unless… wait. Don’t move.”
Her eyes fixed on something just over his shoulder.
“Mom, don’t.”
“No, wait a second. I think I…”
She reached out to her son, her hand disappearing behind his left ear.
“There it is!” Evelyn exclaimed as she pulled back and held a white pawn in her fingers.
“Ha-Ha, Mom. Very funny,” Aiden said, voice rich with sarcasm.
“You used to love that trick,” she said then set both pieces in their proper places on the board.
“Yeah, when I was like eight. And that was with a quarter which you always gave me,” Aiden said as they both rotated the board; Aiden with the white pieces, while Evelyn had black.
“So? It’s so much harder with chess pieces. Besides, what’s wrong with a little sleight of hand?” she asked as she brought her feet up beneath her, ankles crossed as she leaned into the armrest.
“Nothing. Nothing. It’s fine.” Aiden moved a Pawn.
“Are you sure? I can still give you a quarter.” Evelyn moved a Pawn.
“Yeah. Let’s just play.” Aiden moved another Pawn. “It’s your move, Mom.”
Evelyn moved her Queen.
“Checkmate,” she said.
Aiden stared at the board.
“How…”
“The Queen has you in-“
“No I see that, but how did you do that so quickly?”
“I took the opportunity.”
Aiden looked up at her as she leaned back, hiding her smile behind her glass.
“Should I have gone easier on you?” Evelyn asked.
“No, No. It’s fine. I’m a little out of it, I guess.”
“Or maybe it’s because I’m that good.” Evelyn rose and finished off her glass. “You up for another drink?”
Aiden downed the rest of his as well.
“Absolutely,” he said smiling and handed her the empty glass, “But only one finger, please. I’m going to head home eventually.”
“Oh, Honey. I don’t think you should be riding your bike out there tonight. Why don’t you spend the night?”
“I don’t want to be a bother.”
wpDiscuz