The sixth grader's head bobs past the flashing neon open sign hanging in the cafe window...
This is no ordinary sixth grader. He's my nemesis. My archenemy. I'm not being harsh. This lad is truly cunning and a skilled barbarian. We've waged war three times. He won our first battle. I won the second, and then he slaughtered me during a third confrontation. Jesus once said, "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (NIV, Luke 6:35).
I understand the "lend to them expecting nothing in return" part. I do that.
But I gotta' love them too?
I have to do good to them after they whip my backside...in chess?
...I notice him through the window, and he sees me. Our eyes lock like gunslingers out for revenge. While exchanging gazes, the tune from the movie The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly resonates in my mind. My rival smirks confidently at me knowing that he's schooled me before. I can see that he is not afraid of me. I can see it in those round blue eyes of his. He looks away and disappears behind the brick wall next to the front door. It opens and the sound of honking horns and rumbling afternoon traffic escorts him in. A cloud of dust from the dry air wraps around him like a cape.
"THEERRRE he is!" I announce to all the cafe guests.
"This guy has beaten me TWICE at chess," I inform them holding up two defeated fingers.
The cafe erupts with a few "WOO-HOO'S" and an "OH YEAH" or two.
The young chess-tournament-junkie hops onto a stool along the coffee bar just grinning.
Oh that grin! He just wanted to smear his great victories right in my face. I'll never forget that grin of his. It's burned on my Hypothalamus. His smile is totally innocent and adorable...but cunning! There is intelligence behind it. It's the kind of smile that starts out with lips closed and then opens wide revealing teeth that will bite you during a chess match.
Okay, so here's how he beat me last time:
Early in the game, I castle my King. It's safe...right? WRONG! While I take out his Bishop, one Knight, and a Rook, he sneaks his other Knight toward my castled King. For some reason, I never visualize the possible future movements of that straying Knight. Until...you got it...checkmate!
Here's the kicker. The kid doesn't say checkmate.
As calm as can be, he grins at me with that grin saying, "Gotcha!"
And nonchalantly knocks over my King. OOOH, that burns me up!
I've gotta' go now. I need to Google: unstoppable chess moves before opening the cafe.