A Game of Chess Solo

Vale didn't know anything about chess, but her brother would always play it with their babu¹. Some of these games took forever. Some were short. No matter what they were, Raydon looked miserable afterwards. When she would ask about him, it was because he, once again, lost an easy battle. Of course, she wouldn't have known what that meant. What would be a 'hard battle' then when it comes to throwing weird looking pieces all over a checkered board for hours on end? Moving them faster? Maybe she'll ask mama after she's done tending to the garden.

Instead of playing such a strange game, surely they can all instead play a Bano², or Tipu³. But babu would just gently tell her no. Raydon was learning. Vale wasn't sure what Raydon was learning, but it didn't seem to be all that fun.

Eventually, in the midst of her own boredom, Vale decided to ask her babu how to play since they seem so inclined to do it forever. She recalled his expression; amusement maybe? He never really had many expressions. She finally took Raydon's place after he woefully gave in and left them to their own 'game.'

Her babu explained to her the rules, but eventually she got tired of following the rules and just moved the pieces to her own entertainment. Sure, she remember that 'pawns' go forward, and 'bishops' go diagonal only. Then there was the 'rook', which just moved horizontal and vertical and- Ugh, too many rules. But her babu prevailed, simply allowing her to do whatever she saw fit. He seemed always so passive to everything she did.

How Vale missed the days when he wasn't so fragile.

"What do you think chess is, Vale?" Her babu asked her in their Swahili tongue when she started throwing one of the bigger pieces of the game all over the board. Why would he ask her such a silly question? She finally decided this 'king' and 'queen' pieces needed to be together next to each other. Isn't that how royalty works anyway?

"You throw around the pieces and see if you take another out." The rules of the game easily escaping her in her bored fascination. He kept his smile, reaching a dark hand over to grab the king piece from Vale's small hand. "It's a game that requires thinking ahead, and eagerness to succeed." It took Vale all her might not to roll her eyes at something that sounds so boring. "That's boring. Bano at least you can tell you're winning." A low chuckle escaped the throat of her babu. "I suppose you are right, in a way."

Spending time with her babu was a time well-spent. Vale would ask him to play with her and he always did, only to seep back from where he was to do something boring again. Mixing strange liquids together gotten boring for the young girl years ago. It was only exciting when something big happens. Like small explosions or bubbles forming.

The sound of a door creaking caught Vale's attention. Raydon popped back into Vale's view, and she almost didn't notice her babu's eyes changing in expression. She was never sure what that expression meant. But it was never directed at her. Never had.

"What is this?" A wheeze, a dry laugh. But no joke was being made. No jokes about dead bodies, or even murder. The board was a mess of misguided, marble chess pieces. "She's not even doing it right!" Silence was never a good sign in the Ashwood household, as far as Vale knew. Her babu's silence couldn't be either. "She's not expected to." The door slammed behind Raydon's body. "And I am?!"

Raydon never shouts. He always mutters.

His body moved in a shaking motion. Like one of mixtures their babu would make, ready to explode. "Because we both know it's not enough-"

"It's never enough!" His hands were going wild, his growing dreadlocks moved in a violent manner. "It's never enough! I try, and try but I always run flat into a wall! All I keep doing is failing!" Vale moved her small body off a chair, barely understanding the feeling that ran through her. The closest she got to understanding it was when she had a bad stomachache once from eating too much.

"I can't do it! It'll never be enough-!" Vale twisted her head in time to the disturbing, sudden silence that rang in the grey-toned room. A large body clutched to a smaller one. A mass of black clothes contrasting the glowing, bright eyes peeking out from them beneath.

"It's not enough because we both know you can do more." Raydon's eyes peeked up to another's. Family hugs were the best thing ever, and Vale wants in too after whatever had just happened. Her small body scurried along to attach itself to the two others. Barely able to even reach the waist of her own brother. A familiar, warm hand touched the top of her head.

"One day, Raydon. I'll be gone. When that day comes..." That awful silence returned. Vale hugged her brother tighter. "Gone?" Vale's tiny voice broke out. Four eyes stared down to her own. Her babu was the only one smiling. "Who's up for ice cream?"

That was enough to light Vale's eyes up. When everything seems bad, she can always turn to ice cream for comfort. "I want first scoop!" She was confident in her choice, leading an eye roll from her brother and another pat on the head. "...You always get first scoop." Vale's small hand reached out for her brother's, grabbing it by its digits. A large, toothy grin was made by her, and her brother's face soften. "You can have first scoop then, kaka.⁴" Whatever Raydon's reaction was, Vale couldn't understand it, but her hand was able to keep onto her brother's. A snort escaped his nose, and he pulled her along to the door he slammed shut.

"Babu," Raydon spoke. Vale was getting impatient and now regretting letting her brother get first scoop this time. "If you think I can do it, then I will."

The sound of a door opening was made, along with a small pitter-patter of feet. Vale wasn't sure what that meant, but she hopes they still had chocolate sprinkles to use.