“Checkmate”

          “Check,” my principal, Mr. Cabrera said to me.  I only had one chance to save myself, and my king, even though it was a risky move.  My chess tournament life depended on this move.  I could move my queen in front of his queen.  If he killed my queen, then I could kill his with my castle.  The gym was as silent as the wind, whistling over a meadow.  It was a few weeks before school would end, so most of the students and teachers had summer clothes on.  The audience was silent, awaiting my next move. 

          I had decided to my queen even though it was a risky move because his queen was too strong to spare.  He also decided to kill my queen, so then I just killed his with my castle.  The next move I made was giving his king a check with my rook.  Or so I thought.  It was really a checkmate! I had just won the school chess tournament.  Mr. Cabrera came over to congratulate me on a well deserved victory.  My friend Geo, who originally helped me become extremely good at the game, came over and said,

          “You owe me big time, man!!”  The sad thing was, I knew I did.  Then, Mr. Cabrera handed me the trophy which was engraved and said:

Upesh Desai

1st place

Huff Elementary

Chess Tournament 2003

          As soon as I got outside, my friends mobbed me.  I had just won a game of chess versus our principal, so I felt like a god!  Even Nick, who was usually the smelliest kid in the class, smelled good.  The trees seemed greener than usual and I felt like I was on the top of the world!  This day just couldn’t get any better.  Even though the day could get better if Michael Jordan came up and gave me a million dollars.  But, that isn’t likely, so I can settle for this!