Ход королевы

           ”

           “Doesn’tMethuensendyouacheck?”Bethsaid.

           Mrs.Wheatleybroughthereyesdownfromtheceilingandstaredather.“Forthefirstyear,”shesaidevenly.“Asiftheexpensesofkeepingyoudidn’texhaustit.”

           Bethknewthatwasn’ttrue.Thecheckwasseventydollars,andMrs.Wheatleydidn’tspendthatmuchonher.

           “Itrequirestwentydollarsforustolivepassablyuntilthefirstofthemonth,”Mrs.Wheatleysaid.“Iamthirteendollarsshortofthat.”SheturnedhergazebrieflyceilingwardandthenbacktoBethagain.“Ishallhavetokeepbetterrecords.”

           “Maybeit’sinflation,”Bethsaid,withsometruth.Shehadtakenonlysix,forthemembership.

           “Maybeitis,”Mrs.Wheatleysaid,mollified.

           Theproblemwasthefivedollarsfortheentryfee.Inhomeroom,thedayafterMrs.Wheatley’sorationaboutmoney,BethtookasheetfromhercompositionbookandwrotealettertoMr.Shaibel,Custodian,MethuenHome,MountSterling,Kentucky.Itread:

           DearMr.Shaibel:

           Thereisachesstournamentherewithafirstprizeofonehundreddollarsandasecondprizeoffiftydollars.Thereareotherprizes,too.Itcostsfivedollarstoenterit,andIdon’thavethat.

           IfyouwillsendmethemoneyIwillpayyoubacktendollarsifIwinanyprizeatall.

           Verytrulyyours,

           ElizabethHarmon

           ThenextmorningshetookanenvelopeandastampfromthecluttereddeskinthelivingroomwhileMrs.Wheatleywasstillinbed.Sheputtheletterinthemailboxonherwaytoschool.

           InNovembershetookanotherdollarfromMrs.Wheatley’spurse.