The Chess Set (part 2 out of 3) resubmitted and reformatted

“I owned a large toy store and it was filled with the most wonderful things. The shelves and aisles were jam-packed with the largest assortment of items: Yu-Gi-Oh trading cards, puzzles, toys, balls, sports equipment, and board games. I loved working there and my customers left my store very happy. Well, at least the kids were. The parents were more worried about the money in their pockets.

I didn’t have a wife because I was often too busy with business to go looking for one. I was in my prime, an energetic twenty-six year old man."

“Weren’t you lonely?” the girl inquired incredulously.

“Hey, I did have a friend,” I answered defensively. “A bright girl of six; she came to visit and help out at the store at least four times a week. Her name was Gwen, I think, and I called her Gwennie, just to make her laugh.

She was energetic but was also reserved, a remarkable quality in a young child. Although she was bright, I’m afraid she came from a rather poor family. This didn’t stop her from living her life to her fullest though. Frolicking like a newborn fawn, she enthusiastically helped stack the new shipments of boxed action figures or kites. And like a father, I opened her eyes and ears to the world of business and store-keeping.

Extremely inquisitive, she constantly asked questions, which I was happy to answer.

“If you buy a Yu-Gi-Oh card for seven dollars,’ she would say. ‘Then why do you set the price at twelve dollars?’

“Business, child,” I would answer. “I have to make a living, you know. If I didn’t charge higher, I would be ruined.” Then Gwen would blink her eyes and think this over thoughtfully.

One day, while unloading the boxes of shipment, I opened a box which revealed the most elegant chess set that I had ever seen.

Being a chess fan myself, I made sure that my store had some chess sets stocked in case a customer comes into the store with a desire to play the game of nobles, the game of kings. I was astonished to gaze upon the beautiful set. It was clear that this was not those standard, mass-produced sets manufactured from toy companies. No, it was the real deal.

The board was made out of a sturdy wood and varnished very nicely. Gwen, who was unpacking some bags of marbles, looked up and uttered a soft gasp.

The chess pieces were wrapped in bubble wrap to ensure safety. Sixteen pieces of the pieces were made of a rich, mahogany color, while the other sixteen pieces were made out of a lighter wood painted white. I picked a pawn and studied it. The detail was amazingly lifelike.

“The horse is pretty,” Gwen exclaimed picking up a white knight. Unlike most chess sets, the piece not only included a horse but also a miniature rider carrying a tiny lance and shield.

“Who sent this?” I picked up an envelope, which was under the chessboard.

Dear Mr. Roland,

As a chess enthusiast, I feel that it is only fair to give to you one of the most beautifully made chess sets in the world. I assure you that the chess set, which is now in your possession is not worth as much as it looks. In fact, the real value would be worth about $500. However, you may discover that money is not all there is to life. There is more to life than profit and I hope that you will use this chess set wisely.

Yours Truly,

Edmund Lamour

“Do you know how to play chess?” Gwen asked. I hastily put the board and wrappings back into the box.

“Yes,” I answered quickly, feeling my heart quicken slightly. “What luck! What fortune! I can sell the set for at least seven hundred dollars and no less!”

“That’s a lot of money, Mr. Roland,” Gwen commented.

“Of course it’s a lot of money, Gwennie!” I laughed joyously. “And I will get seven hundred dollars of profit from just a single chess set!” I was so absorbed in my glee that I failed to notice that Gwennie had left the store without saying good-bye.”

“She was right to do that,” the girl declared. “You were a greedy, selfish man.”

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “If you would stop talking, I shall continue. There, that’s better.”

I noticed that Gwen had stopped coming to help at the store. I missed her company and decided to call her father.

“It’s your entire damn fault!” he roared. I winced from the volume and held the phone back. “Ever since my daughter’s clapped her eyes on your stupid chess set, she’s been working her ass off, collecting cans and bottles from the streets to get money for your set.”

“I’m sorry but it isn’t my fault that your daughter has grown fond of the chess set,” I said apologetically. “Don’t you like chess?”

I could hear her father sigh from the phone. “I still play,” he said. “But couldn’t you just spare her the suffering and just give the chess set to her?”

Now it was my turn to be angry. “Are you crazy? The chess set will fetch a nice price. It’s business.”

“I don’t know why my daughter even became friends with you in the first place,” Gwen’s father shouted furiously. “I’m speaking to you for the first time and I can already tell that you’re a greedy miser, the worst sort of a miser.”

“It has not been a pleasure talking to you,” I interrupted. “Good day.” And so I slammed the phone down.

Gwen’s father’s attitude towards me was one of the signs that my obsession with money was clearly a bad thing. Stupid and arrogant, I paid no attention and continued with my work as usual.

“You were a mean person,” the girl interrupted. “That girl was working hard and you didn’t even pity her.”

I threw my head back, proud of absolutely nothing. “I was stupid, missy, so shut the damn hell up!”

The girl clasped her hands mockingly. “I’m hearing inappropriate language!”

“What’d you expect from a hobo?” I spat bitterly. “Anyways, I priced the set at a nice $700. Many people thought that the price was outrageous, probably because they could not see the true value the set held.

(part 3 is on its way)