Perpetual Check by Rich Wallace

his expression dark as Mrs. Mansfield gives him hell. She's got a finger in his face, and her own face looks puffy and mean.
    Mr. Mansfield swats the finger away from his chin and stands up straighter, arguing back.
    Randy feels his shoulders sag and he shudders, sniffing hard as his eyes start to water.
    “What are you looking at?” Zeke asks.
    Randy just shakes his head. Zeke joins him at the window and sighs.
    “We're in the middle of a tournament,” Zeke says. “In the middle of the most important match of our lives, and we have to put up with this again? Like we're supposed to concentrate on
chess
?”
    Randy lets out his breath and sits on the bed again.
    “This is ridiculous,” Zeke says, sitting next to Randy.
    They watch the basketball game for several minutes,not paying attention at all. Zeke mentions a couple of ways he might have told his father off. “Go give yourself a pep talk” or “Find a mirror and stare yourself down.” He laughs bitterly the first time, but with some actual humor the second.
    Randy can feel Zeke's anger subsiding, and he starts to feel slightly more at ease. He clears his throat. “I suppose if one of us wins the tournament, there'll be a huge parade back in Sturbridge.”
    “Absolutely,” Zeke says, cracking a smile. “In Dad's honor, mostly.”
    “Of course. He's the whole reason for our success.”
    “I'd like to ride on a huge float and toss candy to all the children lining Main Street. And have the entire cheer-leading squad on the float with me and the marching band behind us.”
    “Well,” Randy says, “if I win, I want to be in one of those old-time fire engines pulled by six horses. With fireworks going off in the sky and some really huge rock band coming in for the occasion.”
    “It'll be the biggest event in Sturbridge history. Because chess is
huge,
as you know.”
    “Everybody's into it.”
    “I can't think of anything bigger,” Zeke says.
    “Which is what makes us so special.”
    Zeke points at the television, where a Syracuse player has just dunked the ball and is running up the court. “You and Dina want to go to a game on Tuesday?”
    “What game? With
you
?”
    “Sturbridge at Scranton Prep.”
    “Wait a minute. You want me and Dina to come all the way back over here, with
you,
for a basketball game?”
    “Why not?”
    “Because you can't stand either one of us.”
    “Yes I can.”
    Randy thinks this over. Obviously, Jenna must have said something about being at the game. Obviously, Jenna feels comfortable around Randy, so obviously, he could help smooth the way for Zeke. “Just brotherly love, huh?”
    Zeke frowns, but his face is brighter. “You're not so bad. And, yeah, it would make a better impression. She's kind of …”
    Randy flicks up his eyebrows. “Above us?”
    “No. Just mature. More like an adult.”
    “Well, maybe she has role models.”
    “Unlike us.”
    “Exactly.”
    When they get back to the lobby, Pramod is standing by the elevator. “Make it quick, boys,” he says. “I'll be waiting in my room to be summoned.”
    “Don't hold your breath,” Zeke says. “This may take a while.”
    “Tell you what,” Pramod says. “Skip the semifinal. Set up two tables and I'll beat you both at the same time.”
    “Sure you will,” Randy says. “Get over yourself, Pramod.”
    “Up yours,” Pramod says. “I'll be taking a nap.”
    They start walking toward the conference room, but Zeke grabs Randy's arm and they stop. “You think maybe you could help me with something this winter?”
    “Like what?” Randy asks.
    “I was lifting weights the other day at the Y. Julie asked me if I'd coach in the indoor soccer league and I said I didn't think so, but now I'm thinking it might not be a bad idea.”
    “What age?”
    “Kindergarten and first graders. Two afternoons a week.”
    Randy looks questioningly at Zeke, but he doesn't see any of the usual guile or derisiveness. “I think I could do that,” he says. “I