The Perfect Mary Sue

The Two Martins


First, there was the old man, the elderly gentleman who always sat in the back of his shop. He could, most times, be found playing chess with a lanky twenty year old that always seemed to be in a rush to leave. He had asked him, the elder Martin with his neatly trimmed beard and wire-rimmed glasses, why he even bothered teaching him the game. His answer was simple.

"He keeps me company," he said. A smile spread thickly beneath his whiskers. "He's my grandson. Currently, our chess games are his mother's idea. Apparently, he needs to learn a thing or two about patience and culture… mostly patience—her words not mine." He snickered then promptly went back to his paper.

The old man with his regular green sweater and stack of well read daily newspapers was easily his most loyal customer.

So, there was him and his grandson—oh and the other one… well, the other two.


- Calla