Stalemate // The Queens Gambit //Benny Watts x OC

INTRO

January, 1961

***

I sat in the kitchen at around 2:20 am, playing chess and tuning out the screaming between my mother and her boyfriend in the other room. This was a usual Friday night. I grabbed a small notepad from my back pocket and scribbled a few things next to the latest name

#42: Frank (last name unknown). November 14th 1960 - January 20th 1961. Reason:

I put the notebook and pen next to the board, knowing I'd figure out the cause of my mother dumping Frank once they were done fighting. I continued with my game, the one between Fine and Lasker in 1936, and finally heard "get your things and leave!" From my mother, and the stomping of Frank to their bedroom. My mother swung open the kitchen door, almost throwing it off the hinges. She paced angrily for a minute and then sat down across from me.

"I can't believe he did this. It's all his fault, you know. I mean does he really expect me not to notice when he comes home at 3 in the morning smelling like peonies and Chardonnay?? Well good riddance, he can screw her as much as he wants now." she rambles, letting out a wry laugh at the end

"Yes mother." I said distantly as I quickly jotted in my little notebook and put it back in my pocket.

#42: Frank (last name unknown). November 14th 1960 - January 20th 1961. Reason: cheating

My mother continued to ramble as I continued with my game, not listening. We suddenly heard frank yell "you'll regret this, Cynthia!" And slam the front door. My mother ran to it and started shouting things out after him. I yawned and put my game away, then wrote a note for mother and went to bed

I'd never had much trouble going to sleep as a teenager, but that night it was almost impossible with mother blaring music in the living room and destroying everything that reminded her of Frank. I finally managed to fall asleep around 3:45.

The next morning, I woke up early as I always did and got ready for school. As I was about to leave I saw my mother lying on the couch asleep, surrounded by torn up books, broken records, and piles of clothes that had been ripped, stained, or anything else to forcefully remove the memories they held for her. I just sighed and cleared a path to the door

Same old, same old.

I thought as I walked to school.