Ход королевы
Chapter 3
Shewassittingupinbed,withacrossword-puzzlemagazinebesideherandalittleTVsetonthedresserwiththesoundturneddown.Bethhadjustbroughtheracupofinstantcoffeefromthekitchen.Mrs.Wheatleywaswearingherpinkrobeandherfacewascoveredwithpowder.
“Willhebebacksoon?”Bethsaid.Shedidn’treallywanttotalkwithMrs.Wheatley;shewantedtogetbacktoChessReview.
“Hehasbeenunavoidablydetained,”Mrs.Wheatleysaid.
Bethnodded.Thenshesaid,“I’dliketogetajobforafterschool.”
Mrs.Wheatleyblinkedather.“Ajob?”
“MaybeIcouldworkinastore,orwashdishessomewhere.”
Mrs.Wheatleystaredatherforalongtimebeforespeaking.“Atthirteenyearsofage?”shesaidfinally.Sheblewhernosequietlyonatissueandfoldedit.“Ishouldthinkyouarewellprovidedfor.”
“I’dliketomakesomemoney.”
“Tobuyclotheswith,Isuspect.”
Bethsaidnothing.
“Theonlygirlsofyouragewhowork,”Mrs.Wheatleysaid,“arecolored.”Thewayshesaid“colored”madeBethdecidetosaynothingfurtheraboutit.
TojointheUnitedStatesChessFederationcostsixdollars.Anotherfourdollarsgotyouasubscriptiontothemagazine.Therewassomethingevenmoreinteresting:inthesectioncalled“TournamentLife”therewerenumberedregions;includingoneforOhio,Illinois,TennesseeandKentucky,andinthelistingunderitwasanitemthatread:“KentuckyStateChampionship,Thanksgivingweekend,HenryClayHighSchoolAuditorium,Lexington,Fri.,Sat.Sun.,”andunderthisitsaid:“$185inprizes.Entryfee:$5.
