[ Chapter X (10): "CHECKMATE" ]
[ SATURDAY. AUGUST 27, 2011 ]
[ "Checkmate, sir." ] announced Michael like he was saying something normal; like for example the weather great, or reminding someone that their shoes are untied, or telling the time to someone who asked.
And not what the statement really is, an game ending announcement in which the enemy i.e. the loser lost $10 and the other (Michael) winning that same exact $10.
Perhaps even more humilihating is that, this was watched by a small crowd of people: joggers, park goers, and even other chess enthusiest --- overall 8 in total, plus a dog. And a crowd of pigeon near a tree.
That or because the loser is clearly experienced in the game, someone in his late 40s. A known bragger, and someone who rarely lose. [ "How did you..." ]
Or maybe because the winner is "merely" an 11-year-old boy, wearing shorts and a cute green-white polo, with a blank calculative-like gaze. [ "I don't know, sir." ]
He placed a hand under his chin, acting like he's thinking deeply about something; before then adding. [ "Maybe it was... you know, a fluke. I don't know." ]
Maybe it was a stroke of luck, maybe he played badly, maybe next game would be better. Michael wants the enemy to think of it as that, because he wants another run --- $10 isn't enough for him, he wants more.
[ "Y-yeah, maybe it-it was a fluke." ] The hustler said outloud in a boastful tone, which sounded like he was convincing himself rather than the spectators. [ "It has to be." ]
[ "Would you like to bet on another? Double or nothing." ]
[ "Alright lil' man, let's do it!" ]
Nah, it was nonsense. In a game all about strategy, how the hell are one side supposed to be lucky 23 times in a row. Short answer, he isn't. He calculated everything up to the tiniest detail.
Something which Mr. Hustler seems to forget, or likely not want to realize as at the moment his pride has been hit --- you need to remember, sometimes pride comes first before anything else, like money.
[ "Okay." ] Michael merely nodded, as he fixes his pieces, previously he had played white and won. Now as per proper chess etiquette, he'll play black next.
And when the piece was finally set, he then grabbed at the timer, resetting the thing as he then hit the top. Letting white's time bleed, [ "Your move." ]
Poor bastard. Michael thoughts, as he smiles inwardly while keeping a stoic expression on the outside, ready to squeeze out $10 more.
And squeeze out $10 more he did from the poor old-man. The experienced hustler though focused, wasn't focused enough, as he got swarmed in tactics by Michael's black piece coordinating with one another.
Before then finally it culminated in a Queen vs. Rook endgame, Michael on the former side --- winning easily.
He quickly capitalized on that Queen advantage as he took all the white Pawns, leaving only the Rook. Before then finally taking the man's soul. [ "Checkmate..." ]
[ "I guess it wasn't fluke, who would have thought." ] He added, finally showing a smile- a mouthful toothy smile, with the full intention to mock. [ "Sorry." ]
[ "I-I lost... again." ] And mock it did succeed in, as at the moment, the once renowned hustler of People's Park is... shaken. The undefeated title of his, broken twice by Michael.
With a shake of his head, he reluctantly accepted the lost. It still hurts, but that's ths game. You either win or learn, the latter being what happened to him.
[ "Good game, son." ]
About to stand up and walk away, he paused, being reminded about the bet he made with the boy. [ "Pay up, sir." ]
Slowly and with force, he pulled out a $20 from his wallet. Handing it over to the outstretch hand of Michael. [ "Here's the 20 I owe ya', better not use it all at once." ]
[ "Sure..." ] Michael on the other hand took the money and quickly pocketed it, relieved by the fact that he now has a total amount of $21.50 in his person.
He took the bet against the hustler knowing that he'll win, then win, which doubled the betting. And now... and now he's more the richer from it.
But not really rich, more like, rich for a 10-year-old rich. Which really isn't rich in his eyes, so while his mother isn't at home- busy at her work, at the local church.
Michael knows that he needs to abuse the remaining time that he has left, to earn money; to repay back his parents. At the moment, he just needs $980 more.
So he turned to the small crowd of people, all genuinely curious, as he then smiled at them. [ "Okay, people. Who's next?" ] Ready for another round of betting.
[ -----| SCENE BREAK |----- ]
[ "Checkmate." ] announced Michael with boredom in his tone, as he then toppled the enemy's King using his Knight. A forced Smothered Mate.
He has been beating people left and right, about 8 different people from his count. And at the moment... he is kinda getting bored fighting, and easily crushing weak souls. [ "Good game, ma'am." ]
But the infux of $36 more into his pockets was never not satisfying. In which he won, that plus the $20 he earned. In total he has about $57.50. Which isn't a lot.
He has sat there for about an hour and he feels like he isn't earning as much as he liked, even when the betting pool is $5 each game. So with a sigh, he stood up.
[ "I'm not playing anymore," ] He said, which made the small crowd of people quite sad- especially the small line of 2-3 people ready to bet against him.
[ "Come on bro, just one more game." ] yelled out a guy with glasses, which is actually the first one in line.
[ "No, sorry. I got bored." ]
He could have stayed for about 2-3 hours more before his parents got home; but he simply isn't feeling it at the moment.
Perhaps due to his enemies being low-levelled and not as skilled as he expected, at the least not on par with the hustler he previously beaten.
[ "And I'm going home, I got curfew." ] Michael doesn't, really, he actually sneaked out of the house. In truth, he wasn't allowed out of the house, but he payed off his sister to not tattle. Which is effective.
About the 32 chess piece on the other hand, he didn't own it, nor does anyone. It was public property, own by the park, so he doesn't have to worry about it.
The makeshift board too, which is engraved on the stone table. The timer on the other hand, he doesn't know, probably the same case as the other two.
About to leave and find other ways to earn money, faster ways really. Or perhaps to entertain himself in the closest library.
He paused, yet when the second person in the line spoke up. [ "But-but, how about the tournament?" ]
[ "What tournament?" ] Michael approached the older fat kid, even though physically he is shorter. He looks intimidating in the boy's eyes.
[ "T-the Annual Cabrera Chess Tournamet..." ] He continued, intrigued. [ "Yo-you didn't... know?" ]
He didn't... No one in his household is interested in Chess, and no one in that same household knows that he is great at it.
So, yes, no one tried learning about the tournament, which he very much is interested upon learning.
[ "I do now, where?" ] He asked, eyeing the three guys in line. Waiting for one of them to answer at the least. [ "You?" ]
[ "Yeah, no, I don't have any idea about that... I just wanted to play." ] The third guy in line clarified. [ "But I think the local library. The Cabrera Library, dude." ]
Michael to confirm what the guy said, then eyed the other two players in the line, which rapidly shook their heads up and down.
[ "Yeah-yeah, th-that's where we going." ]
[ "That's great." ] Michael happily said while smiling, clapping his hands. [ "Your gonna lead me there." ]
In truth Michael wanted to play at the tournament because he was bored, having been stuck and under constant surveilance by his worried sick mother, 24/7.
He can't blame her, her son just hit factory reset a few days later his birthday, wherein he threw a tantrum about not getting the gift he wanted- a bloody laptop.
Then lost his memories after doing something stupid. The cause relating to either to trauma or stress, Lord knows how that happened to a 10-year-old.
[ "M-me?" ] The 13-14ish older kid, fat kid said-asked, pointing at himself as if asking, "are you really-really sure?"
[ "Oh yeah-yeah, definitely." ] In which Michael shrugged it off, nodding along, needing to know the location. [ "Which direction is the library again, best friend?" ]
[ "Just-just a few blocks near that exit." ]
The fat kid pointed, which Michael looked at, before then swinging his arms around the kid's neck; essentially taking him hostage. [ "Alright, let's go." ]
[ "Me-me too." ] Pass the crowd, he and his hostage, plus the other kid with glasses that tag along, went to the other side of the park- to the exit.
On the way he passed by a lady of spanish descent, probably an ethniscian, buying an ice cream for her daughter which is sitting on the park's bench.
A girl who's probably the same age as Michael, if not, then younger. Who has a laid back attitude, her eyelashes done, and have little white beads near her eyes.
That wasn't caught his attention, Lord knows he isn't into children. The mother though... Anyways, what caught his attention was the phone she's holding.
He doesn't even want to know what she's listening too through her earphones, no, he was interested in the fact that phones actually do exist in this timeline.
He thought it was nonexistent, probably because no one aside for her is using it on broad daylight, on the outside. As she is the first aside for Mrs. Heck who uses a phone.
[ "Strange world." ] He muttered under his breath, see if this was 14 years later, then everything would be flipped. Everyone with a phone, her only one not having one.
[ "D-did you say something...?" ]
[ "I said beautiful world." ] Michael quipped, before then moving along, not noticing the weird stare being given to him by that said little phone lady.
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[ FUN FACT: "The largest piece of fossilised dinosaur poo discovered is over 30cm long and over two litres in volume. Believed to be a Tyrannosaurus Rex turd, the fossilised dung (also named a coprolite) is helping scientists better understand what the dinosaur ate." ]
[ 11/29/2025 ]
[ 11/30/2025 ]