Ход королевы
Chapter 5
Shehadtoldhimshewasthirteen.
Bethbentover,readingthepaper:
TheworldofKentuckyChesswasastonishedthisweekendbytheplayingofalocalgirl,whotriumphedoverhardenedplayerstowintheKentuckyStateChampionship.ElizabethHarmon,aseventh-gradestudentatFairfieldJunior,showed“amasteryofthegameunequaledbyanyfemale”accordingtoHarryBeltik,whomMissHarmondefeatedforthestatecrown.
Bethgrimaced;shehatedthepictureofherself.Itshowedherfrecklesandhersmallnosealltooclearly.
“Iwanttoopenabankaccount,”shesaid.
“Abankaccount?”
“You’llhavetogowithme.”
“But,mydear,”Mrs.Wheatleysaid,“whatwouldyouopenabankaccountwith?”
Bethreachedintoherblousepocket,tookoutthecheckandhandedittoher.Mrs.WheatleysatupinherchairandheldthecheckinherhandasthoughitwereaDeadSeaScroll.Shewassilentforamoment,readingit.Thenshesaidsoftly,“Onehundreddollars.”
“Ineedaparentorguardian.Atthebank.”
“Onehundreddollars.”Mrs.Wheatleysaid.“Thenyouwonit?”
“Yes.Itsays‘FirstPlace’onthecheck.”
“Isee,”Mrs.Wheatleysaid.“Ihadn’tthefoggiestideapeoplemademoneyplayingchess.”
“Sometournamentshavebiggerprizesthanthat.”
“Goodness!”Mrs.Wheatleywasstillstaringatthecheck.
“Wecangotothebankafterschooltomorrow.”
“Certainly,”Mrs.Wheatleysaid.
Thenextday,whentheycameintothelivingroomafterthebank,therewasacopyofChessReviewonthecobbler’sbenchinfrontofthesofa.Mrs.
