Ход королевы
Chapter 3
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ThenextweekinEnglishclasssomegirlsbehindBethweretalkingbeforetheteachercamein.“DidyougetthoseshoesatBenSnyder’sorsomething?”oneofthemsaid.
“Iwouldn’tbecaughtdeadinBenSnyder’s,”theothergirlsaid,laughing.
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Bethwalkedtoschooleverymorning,alongshadystreetsofquiethouseswithtreesontheirlawns.Otherstudentswentthesameway,andBethrecognizedsomeofthem,butshealwayswalkedalone.Shehadenrolledtwoweekslateinthefallterm,andafterherfourthweek,mid-termexamsbegan.OnTuesdayshehadnotestsinthemorningandwassupposedtogotoherhomeroom.Insteadshetookthebusdowntown,carryinghernotebookandthefortycentsshehadsavedfromherquarter-a-weekallowance.Shehadherchangereadywhenshegotonthebus.
Thechesssetswerestillonthecounter,butupcloseshecouldseethattheyweren’tverygood.Whenshepickedupthewhitequeenshewassurprisedathowlightitwas.Sheturneditover.Itwashollowinsideandmadeofplastic.Sheputitbackasthesaleswomancameupandsaid,“MayIhelpyou?”
“DoyouhaveModernChessOpenings?”
“Wehavechessandcheckersandbackgammon,”thewomansaid,“andavarietyofchildren’sgames.”
“It’sabook,”Bethsaid,“aboutchess.”
“Thebookdepartmentisacrosstheaisle.”
Bethwenttothebookshelvesandbeganlookingthroughthem.Therewasnothingaboutchess.Therewasnoclerktoask,either.Shewentbacktothewomanatthecounterandhadtowaitalongtimetogetherattention.
