public boolean isPiece(final int the_x, final int the_y){
		if(the_x > WIDTH || the_x < 0){
			return false;
		} else if (the_y > HEIGHT || the_y < 0){
			return false;
		}
		final ArrayList<AbstractPiece> row = my_board.get(the_y);
		AbstractPiece test = null;
		if(row.size() > the_x){
			test = row.get(the_x);
		}
		if (test == null){
			return false;
		}
		return true;
	}