Me and Beth walk out. "Actually let me go get something." Beth said and before I could reply she walks back inside
She walks out and I walk right next to her crossing the street. As we walk back home.
"What was that about?" I asked her
She take a magazine out of a newspaper. I hit her arm
"What!" She yelped
"Why did you steal it!?!" I asked
"I wanted to read it, now let's go home" she said intertwining my arm with hers. As I roll my eyes
We go into the kitchen. And I place the cigarettes on the counter. As me and Beth sit down.
"Thank you, dear." Mom said to me
"Well, that's the last of the instant coffee." She said put coffee in her mug
"I'd go shopping, but I just don't know where all the money goes. I've bought little more
than trifles this month, and yet I have seven dollars left where I should have at least 20." She said
"Seven dollars?" I asked
"Is that enough?" Beth asked pulling away from the magazine she was fascinating reading
"To last till the end of October? I think not. It'll scarcely buy chicken necks and porridge." She said drink the coffee
"Doesn't Methuen send you a check?" Beth asked
I grab the magazine from under her read it a bit. Understanding bits and pieces of it.
"For 160 dollars. And only for the first year. As if the expense of keeping you girls doesn't exhaust it. I'm afraid you'll have to go
without an allowance until Allston returns." She said to Beth begin only that she had a allowance
"Which is when?" Beth asked
"Who can say? It seems he's been
unavoidably detained out West."
I look over at a page. Something was pointed out. I elbow Beth to get her attention and point a a small paragraph that read
" Kentucky - October 20 to 22
Kentucky State Championship at Henry Clay High School, Lexington, Kentucky: 3 Rd SS Tmt, 50 moves/2 hours, for state clubs only: EF $5 plus $6 KCA dues: $$ 1st guaranteed at 100$, 2nd $50, 3rd $25, 4th $10: 1st Rd at 2pm, October 20, final round at 11am, Sunday, October 22: inquiries to KYA, 103 West Avenue, Lexington, KY"
"Maybe I could get a job." Beth said
"A job?" Mom said curious
"I could work in a store, or wash dishes somewhere." Beth said
"Wash dishes?" She raised a eyebrow
"I'd like to make some money."
"Oh, to buy clothes with, I suspect." She said looking at Beth
Beth looked confused
"To enter chess tournaments. There's one here. But it's five dollars for the entrance fee." She said turn the magazine around
"The only girls of your age who work are colored." She said grabbing the pack of cigarettes looking a bit digested she walked away
Beth looked hopeless. I got up and walk to my room. And decided to write a letter to the one who I knew could help Beth.
————
Dear Mr. Shaibel, there's a chess tournament here with a first prize of 100 dollars, and a second prize of 50 dollars. There are other prizes, too. It costs five dollars to enter,
and I don't have that. If you'll send me the money, so that Beth can enter. I will pay you back ten dollars
if Beth win any prize at all. That is but I know that she will.
From, the other Harmon, y/n
I pick up the letter and put it in a envelope. As I hear mom talking to Beth
"Beth, is that you? I seem to have caught a cold."
"Another one?"
"Mm. I have a proclivity for viruses, or... They for me. Uh... here. I need you to fill this prescription for me. And while you're there Buy yourself a coke. Oh and bring y/n with you"
"Thanks."
Beth opens my door as I put a stamp on the envelope
"Mom wants you to come with me. Pick her up some medicine. What's that?" Beth asked look at the envelope
As I put my shoes on.
"Just a note." I said grabbing it as I said a quick goodbye to mom.
We stopped by a Mail Drop off and I put the envelope though the little opening and go with Beth
We walk into Bradley's again with the same tv channel of sports on. I put the prescription note on the table for mr.Bradley to grab
"Be just a minute." He said picking up the note as Beth looked around again as I wait by the counter
"Here you go." Handing me the pills as I give him the cash as he gives me the rest
I walk over to Beth. To see the same magazine she stole but with a different cover this one had a handsome guy on it.
"Who's that?" I asked over Beth shoulder
"Benny watts, U.S champion." She said put the magazine back
I grab it
"What are you doing?" She asked
"Buying it." I said as I put the cash for it down
Mr.Bradley took it and I walk out with Beth behind me
"Why did you buy it? You don't even like chess." She said
"Because he's cute and plus you can read it." I said handing it to her as we cross the street.
"Where did you get the money?" She asked
"Ran a few errands for the neighbors." I said
"Oh and hold this to please" I said hand her the pill bottle not really care what the hell they were.
As we got home. I jump on the couch as Beth hands me the magazine. With a cute guy on the cover
I open it to read the interview. It read.
"I asked Benny watts what was it like to win? And if it was hard too? He answered telling me that it's was like walking on water. Everyone looked at him as if he had just turn water into wine. As for the being hard he said no. Though Vasily Borgov did get him a few times but nothing that the Benny Watts couldn't handle."
The magazine was took from my hands.
"Hey!" I said turning around looking at my sister
"Are you done admiring your boy toy?" Beth asked
"For your information I was actually reading the interview, but yes. For now that is." I said grabbing the cup of water from her hand to go bring it to my mother as I hear her laugh a little
————
"Happy birthday day to you." Beth and mom finish singing as I blow out the candle that was put on a cupcake. I take a bit while Beth and me talked.
Mom comes back with a box. She gives it to me
"Sorry that it's not much, dear." Mom said sitting down across from me
"No it's okay." I said opening the box to see it had a two necklace.
"One for you, one for Beth and one for me. The moons for you because in your eyes everything is beautiful. The suns for Beth because she's always shining." She Said
I grab the necklace handing the sun necklace to Beth. As I put the moon on I looked over at mom. To see her wearing a star one
"And the stars for you being you should be a star." I said causing her to laugh and smile.
————
I was standing next to counter helping Beth dry the dishes as she washes them
"this came for you." Mom said catch my attention
I look over to see mom handing a envelope to Beth as Beth pulls of the gloves and grabs it
"Thank you." Beth said
"Mm-hm." Mom said walking away
Beth opens it.
"What is it?" I asked
"Money?" She said confused as I smiled
Beth looks over at me
"Did you?"
I nod knowing she what she was gonna ask
"Mr.Shaibel to be exact." I said causing Beth to smile
————
Me and mom we're sitting at the piano, playing with a few keys laughing.
"You're home late." I said turning my attention to Beth
"I was out walking." She said
"Oh. Okay." I said turning my attention back to the piano
"Good night, dear." Mom said
"Good night." Beth goes up the stairs before going back down
"Oh, um... I'm gonna be late again tomorrow. I have something after school." Beth said
"Have you joined a club?" Mom asked
"I'm playing in that chess tournament I told you about." Beth said
"I won't argue that broadening one's social life is important for a girl your age." She said
"Mom.." I said
" What? I just wonder whether a dance class
or a girls' club wouldn't be better for making friendships. I hear Fairfield has pretty good ones."
"When you were my age, how did you broaden your social life? The tournament goes until Sunday." Beth said
"Beth." I called stopping her before going up the rest of the stairs
"I'm coming with you." I said as Beth nods and goes upstairs
"You think she'll win?" Mom asked me
"No i don't think so. I know so." I said
"Have you ever heard of Beethoven?" She asked me
I nod no
"Well Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire and span the transition from the Classical period to the Romantic era in classical music. He's one of my favorite pianists." She standing up walking over to the desk
She grabs a paper and a vinyl. I go over to her.
"And maybe could be yours too." She said giving me it and walking upstairs.
————
Me and Beth walk into the high school. We walk up to a table with two twins
The man hands Beth a paper and goes to hand me one. I nod no. He puts the paper down and goes over to read something
"Do you have a clock?" He asked
"No." Beth said
"We have a clock-sharing system. If your opponent doesn't have one, come back, and we'll loan you one. Play starts in 20 minutes. What's your rating?" He asked
"I don't have a rating." Beth said as I scanned the hall ways
"Have you played in a tournament before?"
"No."
"Are you sure you wanna do this?" He asked looking at Beth concerned
"I'm sure." Beth said giving him the money as he took it
"We don't have a women's section." He said as I give him a annoyed look he takes a deep breath
"I'll put you in beginners."
"I'm not a beginner."
"Doesn't matter. If you're an unrated player, you go in beginners with the people under 1600." The other twin said
"What's the prize for beginners?" I asked
"Twenty." He said
"What about the other section?" Beth asked
"First prize in the Open is 100." The other twin who we were previously talking to said
"Is it against any rule for her to be in the Open?" I asked
"Not exactly." The other twin said looking over at his brother
"Put me in the Open." Beth said
"There are three guys in there with ratings over 1800. And Beltik may show up. They will eat you alive." Beth said walking away
I look at them for a moment, before following behide my sister.
"Harmon." I hear them said while we walk off
I scan the room as she goes looks at the board. I look over at my sister to see her talking to someone.
"Good luck." He said before walking away as Beth walks up to me.
"he's cute." I said to my sister
"You think everyone is" she said to me
"No, just him." I said
"And Benny watts?"
"Of course Benny watts. Doubt. He be here though maybe in your future matches." I said smirking at her. I look over to see she's up against a other unrated player
She sits down. "I'm gonna go get coffee, do you want some?" I asked
" we can't drink coffee in here, only water." Beth said
"You should be quick if, you're up against a unrated. Good luck." I said before leaving to get coffee
I walk out to where the twins were. I walk up to them.
"Where the coffee machine?" I asked
One points to the machine in the corner. I go over but one stops me
"You can't bring them in there." I look over at him
"In case it falls it might ruin the board." He said
"She will be out soon, tops is probably 10." I said
Turning around walking over to it as I grab two cups and place it on the table and pour the still warm coffee in the cups. I put creams and sugar and use a wood stir to mix it in. I walk over to the boys sipping my coffee.
While I place Beth's on the table.
"What are y'all names?" I asked
"Mike." The one with the one in the black jacket said
"Matt" the one in the maroon said
"What can you tell me about, Townes?" I asked
"He a avid chess player." Mike said
"He also works for chess review as a photojournalist as an associate editor." Matt said as Beth walks up to us
"What I do with this?" Beth asked them
"Is your match over?" Matt said
"Yes, I won." Which brings a smile to my face
Mike checks his watch
"That was fast." He said
"Told you" I said and Beth looks at me giving me a small smile before turning back to them
"What do I do with this?"
"Circle your name and drop it in the basket." Matt said Beth writes her name, she grab the coffee that was her and put her paper in the basket
"So is that all about Townes?" I asked in a whisper so Beth wouldn't hear me
They nod
I walk over to Beth to see her about to walk off but stops as Townes walks up and I walk towards the table.
He looks over as Beth places the paper in the basket and walks down the stairs as Beth watches him.
"Bye boys" I said walking to Beth a little stunned
I hit her arms as we walk downstairs
"What was that for?" She asked
"You are totally crushing on Townes." I said
"Am not?" She said
"You sure are." I said as I hold open the door for Beth to walk.
"I'm gonna go look at the other players." She said
I nod as she walks and goes behide the top boards sign.