Isabel liked to say she knew her stuff. For example, when fighting, she knows how to take down an enemy in three moves or less (it's just a matter of skill to do it). When doing homework, it is always handy to lock the door and listen to music because her Grandpa's training can sometimes be very distracting. When one went into a store to buy a candy bar for a snack later, a person pays with money and leaves.
"Knight to F6," the shopkeeper said in a very serious voice.
He or she shouldn't be expected to play a chess match on whether or not paying $1.19 for candy is justifiable.
"That's an illegal move Mr. Max's Dad," she sighed and looked at the clock. She was going to be late for training at this rate.
"Is it?" Max's dad asked, as if questioning her knowledge of the game. Again, this was another thing she knew of. She knew how to play chess. It was one of the few games she played with her Grandpa.
"Yes, it is."
"Dear, I don't think you have every played…" the adult came to a silent stop in his speech before standing up dramatically and practically screaming, "CHESS CHESS REVOLUTION!"
"That's not a real thing," Isabel commented. She honestly wondered if Max and him were even related biologically. They were nothing alike. Then again, she supposed that Max could have been so embarrassed by his father that he removed all urges to be like him.
From upstairs, she heard something falling done and someone laughing quietly in the distance. She had no doubt that Max just fell down from his father's sudden outburst. Again, this was yet another thing she knew. Her new friend was prone to not adjusting well to his ever-changing environment.
Max's dad eventually calmed down from his bold proclamation and smiled.
"You sure know a whole bunch of stuff despite being so young, huh?" he asked with a smile. Taking a piece, he moved it forward. Isabel didn't even pay attention if it was even legal: they were twenty turns in, and she just wanted her candy bar.
"Yeah. I'm kind of a big deal at home you know," Isabel commented and moved another one of her pawns forward. It was always important to make sure you were moved ahead of her opponent, even if the opponent was a complete idiot at chess.
"Really? To think that Max would be making such amazing friends so soon after moving! I AM PROUD OF YOU MY SON!" he screamed again. Max yelled something incomprehensible back, but his father didn't seem to notice or care. He moved another piece forward.
In the few hours that she and Max had hung out, he never really talked much about his family. She supposed a lot kids kind of left their parents out of the conversations, and seeing the only people she talked to were Ed and sometimes Isaac, it wasn't completely out of her norm. However, Max's dad seemed like someone who was constantly in his life, and it didn't seem possible not to talk about yourself without talking about him. Perhaps it was because of that ominous protagonist-type foreshadowing he was doing earlier in Mr. Spenser's office. Or maybe his dad is some kind of agent and this was just a ploy-
"Excuse miss, but I do believe it is your turn," the shopkeeper interrupted.
"Hmm? Oh yeah, I'll just move this piece and-" Isabel stopped midsentence as she scanned the board. This wasn't possible.
There wasn't a single place she could move that wouldn't put her king in check.
"What? When did this happen?" Isabel muttered under her breath.
"Hah. It looks like my practice in Chess Chess Revolution has finally come into good use," Max's dad explained as if that was the true answer.
"Dad, are you antagonizing the customer's again? You know you're actually supposed to sell things in a shop, right?" Max's voice asked as he entered the shop and stopped mid-step.
"YOU!" he yelled.
"Hmm? Max, this is like the second time you did this. Is this some kind of hip thing with the kids these days?" his father asked.
"You're not here for some kind of weird," he paused to get closer to her, "ghost thing, are you?"
"TOAST GANGS? What are you doing hanging out with toast gangs Max? I thought I taught you better my son." his father exclaimed as if they were some kind of horrible thing that actually existed.
"Those aren't even things Dad!" Max sighed and saw that a candy bar lay on the counter.
"I just wanted a snack before going home," Isabel explained but never took her eyes off of the chessboard.
Max facepalmed, glared at his father, and placed the candy bar into her hand.
"Just take it. The more you humor him, the more he'll think this is suitable customer service. See you in school later then," Max said and went back to the second floor of the store. That was probably where they all lived. That was probably something Isabel knew.
"Hah. Kids these days. I might not seem like it, but I'd like to think I'm pretty hip these days," Max's dad commented before counting the money Isabel had placed on the counter before he challenged her to a game of chess.
"Though I never really know. I'm not Max, so how in the world does his expect me to understand things like the 'Interwebs' and 'color television?'" Max's dad asked in some kind of weird protagonist wistfulness. Maybe that sort of thing ran in the family.
"Huh? Yeah, I guess."
"Except, I'm his dad. Guess I can't help but try to butt into his life in some kind of attempt to keep him and his sister safe. Even if hates it."
There was a moment of an awkward silence between the two of them.
"Well, I better be off to be the protective and loving father that I am. MAX! ZOEY! WHO WANTS PIZZA FOR DINNER AGAIN?"
Isabel was suddenly left alone in the store with her candy bar and the chessboard. She studied the game one more time. How could an idiot like that beat her at chess? Chess was her game. It was the only thing she could beat Grandpa in anyways.
She took in every move. All of his moves just seemed to be random steps a beginner would use because he didn't know how to move them. Except, somehow, they made coherent sense now that she was looking at it more closely. In fact, all of it seemed like some kind of elaborate plan. How could she not have known his plan all along? What kind of shopkeeper would give out free snacks?
Crushing her candy bar, Isabel left the store without another word.
She needed to punch something. That was at least something she knew. Maybe Ed would be up for sparing. Probably not. That was another thing she knew.
Though, maybe not knowing things made life a little more fun. She'll be sure to tell Max's dad that for tomorrow's rematch.
