We drive the 3 minutes down the road (ah, the conveniences of in-town life! Close to church! Close to McDonald's!) to our church hall. Arriving, unlocking the hall door, sending a big boy to switch on the lights, and the arranging of the long, narrow tables begins.
Soon they shuffle in, mostly boys, mostly quiet, bee-lining for the tables to set up their boards. Large plastic pieces, roll-up boards, hand-carved Polish wooden bishops--the variety as charming as the smiles exchanged; the games begin with the move of a pawn.
We had 26 children playing the game of kings. No arguments, no bad sports. Competition and strategy at its finest, with kids ranging in age from 4 to 17. It's a rare joy to see an 8 year old defeat a 15 year old! But you will see it here. There's nothing quite like it.
My three oldest sons started playing the game seriously (as taught by their Dad) after their tonsillectomies a couple years ago. After playing game after game with one another ad nauseum, they asked if I knew any other kids who could play. I immediately sent out a mass email to the homeschool group, inquiring if any children were interested in getting together to play my boys...the response was astonishing: "Sure! We'd LOVE to join your chess club! When does it meet?"
Say What?
So that's how I came to be the moderator of the Chess Club. And that's how I get to see all these beautiful minds planning a checkmate 5 moves in advance.....game of kings, indeed.
Maybe someday I will learn to play.
Rule 887: If you see a need, take the lead! (this is the Frontier Girls' motto, as memorized by daughter Josephine).
Rule 102: Hug your inner nerd. Or hug your nerdy children. Nerds are awesome.
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