IT WAS RAINING 1957

A 9 YEAR OLD BOY AND GIRL IN LONDON PLAY CHESS ONE WET SATURDAY IN 1957

It was raining
so I invited Enid
in to learn
how to play chess

I shut the front door
of the flat
and we went past the kitchen
where Mum was doing
the washing in the boiler

just showing Enid
how to play chess
I said to Mum

she looked at Enid
and smiled and said
make sure he doesn't cheat

Enid nodded and smiled
and we went into the sitting room
and sat at the table
in front of the window
which gave us extra light

I got the chess box
from the side
and opened it up
and put down the chessboard
and showed Enid
where the pieces went
and how they could move
and how many times
and gave her the whites
and I had the black pieces

you go first
I said
because you're white

she looked at her pieces
which piece can I move first?

any pieces provided
it moves as I showed you

she gazed at the chessboard
and this piece is called the prawn?
she said

no pawn
I said
it's like a common soldier
it moves as I showed you

she hesitated her small
9 year old fingers lingering
over the pawn
forgot where
and how it can move
she said looking at me

I smiled and showed her
how the pieces moved again

she watched
think I've got it now
she said

ok off you go
I said

she moved her first pawn
and then sat back pleased
that she'd moved a piece

how's your old man?
I asked

she looked at me
her eyes bright through
her thick lens glasses
he hasn't hit me or Mum yet
she said
that's nearly two weeks
and he's been all nice
and patient and not rowed
and Mum's happy
in a nervous kind of way
Enid said

I moved my black pawn
do you think he'll go back
to how he was?
I said

hope not
she said
moving another white pawn
that's what I fear each morning
that he's gone back
to being as he was
and that'll come in my room
one morning and slipper me
or hit me around the head
in my bed

I moved my knight
to the front of my army
take each day as it comes
I said

we played out the game
I took all her pieces but one
her king
and he I checkmated
and won.