Chương 12: Chapter 12 - The Rook

My heart stopped.

Her expression morphed into something unfamiliar. And tears rolled down her face like rain. One after the other.

My mother didn't bother to grab a napkin to wipe them away, she let them fall. The first gift she opened was the chess set. She picked up the pieces one by one holding particular attention to the Rook.

"Oh it's been so long since I have even held a chess piece. And the stone, oh my goodness, the stone, this red, it is so beautiful! Is it ruby?"

I laughed heartily. Running my hands into my hair. Relief coursing through my veins.

"Yes mom it's Ruby like your birth stone." I was in shock. Just that first gift alone had given us a home run. I felt the blood rush back into my hands and face. 'I owe Celeste more than I initially thought.'

I glanced over at my Dad. His phone was out as he took videos and pictures of my mom. He glanced over at me and gave me a discrete thumbs up.

I leaned back into my chair feeling very pleased. My mom took her time with the chess set. She cleared the table and carefully examined each piece and placed it into position.

"And Gordon's signature is on it! I need to go back and visit him soon it's been ages!"

She looked so happy in a way that at least for her birthdays I haven't seen before.

I passed her a napkin to wipe down her face and eyes from her tears.

"Now I can't wait for the next one." She gingerly placed down the Rook piece and moved on to the smaller box.

'This is the crocheting tools. Maybe that should have been first.' But before I could further contemplate it she took out the box and released another gasp though instead of crying she laughed.

"Oh my I didn't even know you boys paid attention to me this much! I haven't crocheted in a while either and yet I have been looking into starting again now that you are older James!"

I groaned at my childhood nickname. My name is Dean but like the famous actor James Dean my mom often liked to call me James randomly. She thought I looked like him and felt I had his same old school glamor.

"Well honey those are the gifts we got for you! This kid and I really went though the wringer trying to get a nice gift. I am very glad we found it."

My mom laughed into her napkin further wiping now tears of joy from the corner of her eyes.

"My loving husband and wonderful son. Thank you so much for the gifts. You really surprised me this year! I can't wait to show off to the ladies at our brunch this weekend. This time Minnie will be the jealous one!"

Ahh Minnie. Again information I have forgotten. Minnie is actually a nickname for Minerva who is Celeste's mom. The mothers from our social group often had lunches or dinners together to brag about one another's kids.

Because of how I act, my mother rarely had anything good to say about me. Or at least that's what she would playfully scold me about. But when she would talk to my dad she spoke of how hard it was to compete with Celeste's mom.

When the kids are basically on the same playing field; it makes any accomplishment just a another tiny step to being better than the rest.

'That aside what is her fascination with that piece?'

"Estelle you really love the Rook don't you?" My mother had gone back to playing with the the Rook piece though I didn't understand it significance.

'Wouldn't she like the Queen more?'

"Let me tell you a little story. Years ago I once was a chess champion. I played like my life depended on it. Though one year I faced a devastating loss against an older male player."

She paused and reset her game lovingly. Before moving one pawn forward starting the game.

"I was twelve at the time and only played by the few war tactics I learned. And maybe a bit of instinct."

"Before long I was out of ideas. I went to the local library and tried to reconstruct the game. Seeing where I lost. Gordon saw me and gave me the advice I needed."

'You lead with the Queen too much. Other pieces are at play too.'

"I played in an aggressive way but I miss judged what the pieces meant and why they were there. I realized if I want to win. I need to be more considerate of those around me."

She picked up the rook piece and moved it forward.

"The Rook is the next best weapon after the Queen. It works by supporting the pawns. I was enlightened. I soon after regained my titles and decided to leave once I started university. At that point in my life I felt that I better understood chess and was time to move on. I then met your dad and well the rest is history."

I felt like I met my mom for the first time. I know my parents, obviously, I have been with them since birth. But this was something I never knew she was like.

The rest of the night went as a success. We finished off with a nice cake provided by the restaurant. We went our separate ways after.

I drove back to my house and sat down on the couch. I long since tossed my jacket away. The silence in the house ever more apparent. I leaned my head back, one of the few reasons I liked to party and do the things I do was because it killed the silence.

Silence usually bothered me. Only a few moments in my life has silence felt comforting.

The vibration from my phone broke the silence. My Dad had texted me.

'Please bring Celeste to the office when you get the chance. I would like to thank her in person.'

'Bring her over huh.' I thought to myself. I pulled my head up and cocked it to the side. I laughed at the idea. 'Feels like introducing a girlfriend to the family.'