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(This is the first of twelve chapters in a story I submitted for a contest where I won second place.)
“Your move.”
The afternoon sun bathed the snowy village in a glow of warm winter light. Small snowflakes drifted effortlessly like floating crystals of nature as two chess players contemplated their next moves.
The bustle of traffic filled a nearby street, signaling the start of Christmas shopping. Among all this, a small painter’s stand sat in the middle of a downtown park. Rows of paintings filled every available space as images of flowers greeted the eye in a dazzlingly array of painterly color.
The two chess players, a young man and a middle-aged woman, sat under an awning that shielded them and their game board from the elements.
“I’ve almost got this figured out.” said the young man. He pulled his baize jacket closer as he massaged his chest, warming his body. Flecks of paint dotted his coat, showing hard use and experience.
“Benton, sometimes you have to cut your losses. Come on. Admit defeat and let’s start another round.” the woman urged the young man. A tiny snowflake landed on her grey trench coat. She brushed it off with matching grey gloves and looked at the chess board.
“I know I can win this, Tessa.” Benton said, his deep brown eyes lit with silent determination. He quickly tried to read his friendly opponent, staring at her light blue eyes that portrayed no hint of her next move. Benton picked up a chess knight to engage one of Tessa’s pieces.
“You’re such a romantic. You always pick the knight to lead the final charge.” Tessa commented as she pondered her strategy.
Benton looked around the park. There were very few people around, and no one stood in any place for too long. They all looked so busy and moved as though fleeing time itself.
“There aren’t that many potential customers today.” Benton commented.
“They’re too busy focusing on Christmas shopping.” Tessa said as she moved a bishop to counter his knight.
“Yeah, well they’re not shopping at my stand. I can never understand what these people are looking for in a present.” Benton expressed with a distinct sense of frustration.
“They’re not looking for anything.” Tessa sat back in her seat. “They just find something that seems like a good present and they take it, with no thought involved in the process. That’s what people do today in our fast-moving society.”
Benton examined the chess board, eyeing his few remaining pieces. “Why can’t people just slow down for a bit? I’m tired of this fast-paced world. I want…something simpler. More laid back, ya know?”
“You get any more laid back in your moves and we may end up finishing this game on New Year’s Eve.” Tessa joked.
Benton smiled as he heard the crunch of footsteps in snow behind him. He turned and saw a young couple gazing at his flower paintings.
“Good evening!” Benton greeted them cheerfully.
“Good evening.” the man said rather sternly while the woman gave Benton a friendlier smile.
“See anything you like?” Benton asked, eager to make sale. Tessa sighed at his lack of patience.
“I’m not much into flowers.” the man said as he eyed the canvases. The woman took a closer look at a hanging piece of art above the paintings.
“What about this?” she asked. It was a painting of a young couple, embracing one another under the moonlit backdrop of a secluded beach. “It’s beautiful!”
“Oh that? Benton asked, puzzled that she chose his one romantic painting. “That was one of my earlier works before I moved on to painting flowers and still life.”
“It’s missing something,” the woman said, “but I can’t tell what it might be.”
“We have to go.” the man said. “The paintings are very nice.” he told Benton before leaving.
“Nice…” Benton said as he turned to Tessa. “ ‘Nice’ is a nice word for lackluster.” He moved a pawn to intercept Tessa’s bishop.
Tessa shook her head. “Benton, I’ve told you that you should focus on romantic painting. You’re really good at it and the patrons love it.”
“I haven’t had the inspiration in years, ever since the sled race…”
Tessa cut him off. “Are you still brooding over that? It’s been five years. So you lost. You can’t win em’ all.”
Benton’s eyes lowered as his mind traveled back in time.” It’s not the loss that bothers me. It’s my dogs. I still remember their names…”
“Yes, you’ve told me this.” Tessa said, trying her best to stop Benton’s depressive train-of-thought. “Itchy, Balto, Beetovhan, Jenna, Lady, Charlie, and Bud: All names of dogs from the movies. We’ve been over this. You agreed that it was better you gave them to the shelter because of your money problems. See? I remember all of this because you tell me every time we play.”
Tessa looked at the chess board. “Be thankful that you got to keep Gent,” Tessa said as she looked around the chess table. “By the way, where is that dog of yours?”
“He had to stay home. He’s been having trouble sleeping for the last couple of nights. He always has restless nights during this time of year. He used to love Christmas.” Benton sighed.
“I bet he still feels guilty over the loss of the race.” Tessa said as she readied her hand to move.
“I should go check on him. I think I’ll leave early today.” Benton said as he got up to pack his paintings.
“Hold on.” Tessa said as she moved a queen towards Benton’s king. “Checkmate.”
(Continue to part 2: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2545124 )
“Your move.”
The afternoon sun bathed the snowy village in a glow of warm winter light. Small snowflakes drifted effortlessly like floating crystals of nature as two chess players contemplated their next moves.
The bustle of traffic filled a nearby street, signaling the start of Christmas shopping. Among all this, a small painter’s stand sat in the middle of a downtown park. Rows of paintings filled every available space as images of flowers greeted the eye in a dazzlingly array of painterly color.
The two chess players, a young man and a middle-aged woman, sat under an awning that shielded them and their game board from the elements.
“I’ve almost got this figured out.” said the young man. He pulled his baize jacket closer as he massaged his chest, warming his body. Flecks of paint dotted his coat, showing hard use and experience.
“Benton, sometimes you have to cut your losses. Come on. Admit defeat and let’s start another round.” the woman urged the young man. A tiny snowflake landed on her grey trench coat. She brushed it off with matching grey gloves and looked at the chess board.
“I know I can win this, Tessa.” Benton said, his deep brown eyes lit with silent determination. He quickly tried to read his friendly opponent, staring at her light blue eyes that portrayed no hint of her next move. Benton picked up a chess knight to engage one of Tessa’s pieces.
“You’re such a romantic. You always pick the knight to lead the final charge.” Tessa commented as she pondered her strategy.
Benton looked around the park. There were very few people around, and no one stood in any place for too long. They all looked so busy and moved as though fleeing time itself.
“There aren’t that many potential customers today.” Benton commented.
“They’re too busy focusing on Christmas shopping.” Tessa said as she moved a bishop to counter his knight.
“Yeah, well they’re not shopping at my stand. I can never understand what these people are looking for in a present.” Benton expressed with a distinct sense of frustration.
“They’re not looking for anything.” Tessa sat back in her seat. “They just find something that seems like a good present and they take it, with no thought involved in the process. That’s what people do today in our fast-moving society.”
Benton examined the chess board, eyeing his few remaining pieces. “Why can’t people just slow down for a bit? I’m tired of this fast-paced world. I want…something simpler. More laid back, ya know?”
“You get any more laid back in your moves and we may end up finishing this game on New Year’s Eve.” Tessa joked.
Benton smiled as he heard the crunch of footsteps in snow behind him. He turned and saw a young couple gazing at his flower paintings.
“Good evening!” Benton greeted them cheerfully.
“Good evening.” the man said rather sternly while the woman gave Benton a friendlier smile.
“See anything you like?” Benton asked, eager to make sale. Tessa sighed at his lack of patience.
“I’m not much into flowers.” the man said as he eyed the canvases. The woman took a closer look at a hanging piece of art above the paintings.
“What about this?” she asked. It was a painting of a young couple, embracing one another under the moonlit backdrop of a secluded beach. “It’s beautiful!”
“Oh that? Benton asked, puzzled that she chose his one romantic painting. “That was one of my earlier works before I moved on to painting flowers and still life.”
“It’s missing something,” the woman said, “but I can’t tell what it might be.”
“We have to go.” the man said. “The paintings are very nice.” he told Benton before leaving.
“Nice…” Benton said as he turned to Tessa. “ ‘Nice’ is a nice word for lackluster.” He moved a pawn to intercept Tessa’s bishop.
Tessa shook her head. “Benton, I’ve told you that you should focus on romantic painting. You’re really good at it and the patrons love it.”
“I haven’t had the inspiration in years, ever since the sled race…”
Tessa cut him off. “Are you still brooding over that? It’s been five years. So you lost. You can’t win em’ all.”
Benton’s eyes lowered as his mind traveled back in time.” It’s not the loss that bothers me. It’s my dogs. I still remember their names…”
“Yes, you’ve told me this.” Tessa said, trying her best to stop Benton’s depressive train-of-thought. “Itchy, Balto, Beetovhan, Jenna, Lady, Charlie, and Bud: All names of dogs from the movies. We’ve been over this. You agreed that it was better you gave them to the shelter because of your money problems. See? I remember all of this because you tell me every time we play.”
Tessa looked at the chess board. “Be thankful that you got to keep Gent,” Tessa said as she looked around the chess table. “By the way, where is that dog of yours?”
“He had to stay home. He’s been having trouble sleeping for the last couple of nights. He always has restless nights during this time of year. He used to love Christmas.” Benton sighed.
“I bet he still feels guilty over the loss of the race.” Tessa said as she readied her hand to move.
“I should go check on him. I think I’ll leave early today.” Benton said as he got up to pack his paintings.
“Hold on.” Tessa said as she moved a queen towards Benton’s king. “Checkmate.”
(Continue to part 2: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2545124 )
Category Story / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 120 x 120px
File Size 14.1 kB
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