Ход королевы
Chapter 2
“Wecan’thavethat,Elizabeth,”shesaid.“asmuchasMethuenbelievesinexcellence,wecan’thaveyouplayingchessinthebasement.”
Bethfeltherstomachtighten.
“Ibelievetherearechesssetsinthegamecloset,”Mrs.Deardorffcontinued.“I’llhaveFergussenlookintoit.”
Aphonebeganringingintheouterofficeandalittlelightonthephonebeganflashing.“Thatwillbeall,Elizabeth.Mindyourmannersatthehighschoolandbesureyournailsareclean.”
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In“MajorHoople”inthefunnies,MajorHooplebelongedtotheOwl’sClub.ItwasaplacewheremensatinbigoldchairsanddrankbeerandtalkedaboutPresidentEisenhowerandhowmuchmoneytheirwivesspentonhats.MajorHooplehadahugebelly,likeMr.Shaibel,andwhenhewasattheOwl’sClubwithadarkbeerbottleinhishands,hiswordscamefromhismouthwithlittlebubbles.Hesaidthingslike“Harrumph”and“Egad!”inaballoonontopofthebubbles.Thatwasa“club.”ItwaslikethelibraryreadingroomatMethuen.Maybeshewouldplaythetwelvepeopleinaroomlikethat.
Shehadn’ttoldanyone.NotevenJolene.Shelayinbedafterlightsoutandthoughtaboutitwithanexpectantquiverinherstomach.Couldsheplaythatmanygames?Sherolledoveronherbackandnervouslyfeltthepocketofherpajamas.Thereweretwointhere.ItwassixdaysuntilThursday.MaybeMr.Ganzmeantshewouldplayonegamewithonepersonandthenonegamewithanother,ifthatwashowyoudidit.
Shehadlookedup“phenomenal.”Thedictionarysaid:“extraordinary;outstanding;remarkable.
