Chapter 4: Playing . . .

CHAPTER 4: PLAYING **. . .**

" Girls should be on time !" , remarked Leonard annoyingly.

It was Sunday afternoon, a week after the big Reds game in Indianapolis. Deedee and Leonard were in Deedee's upstairs family room. The two Chibi Chess boards and pieces were already set up on two tables. Deedee was sitting at the computer, calling up WJHS, a junior high school radio station, broadcasting on the Internet, from Columbia City, Indiana, USA, to play in the background. Leonard was sitting on the couch, wearing a Detroit Red Wings hockey T-shirt, since they had won the Stanley Cup a few winters ago, and blue jeans. He was looking at sports scores on his iphone. Deedee was wearing her usual, a pale orange shirt and skinny blue jeans.

" They will be here " , said Deedee consolingly, as she walked to the window and saw Sherry and Mazie getting out of a taxicab.

In a few minutes, the door to the family room opened and in walked Sherry, wearing a Gothic style creme colored trumpet sleeve blouse, and black Diesel designer jeans.

" Come on in, don't be shy! " , she said soothingly through the half opened door. In walked a pretty little girl wearing a little girl's white-as-snow party dress.

" OMG ! Is that Mazie ? Yes ! No ! Yes !! " , gulped Leonard.

" You look so nice, very pretty. " , Deedee smoothly declared.

" That dress really looks lovely on you, " chimed in Sherry, " So sweet and innocent! "

Indeed, Mazie was wearing a beautiful, brand new, snow white little girls party dress. The dress had an empire waist, and was styled like a child-sized maternity dress. Her dress had tiny white ruffles around the square neckline, and around the above-the-knee hemline. She had on a pale blue hoodie over the dress. The dress was matched to a tiny unseen pink and white petticoat. White frilly socks were worn with her shiny red Mary-Janes. Mazie had on pink fingernail polish that glistened like twinkling stars. A colorful headband encompassing her short pink hair completed the outfit. (#)

Understandably, Leonard was shocked and surprised.

" Wa, Wa, Wa . . . . Duh . . . . , What do you think you are doing ? You look so . . . .ah . . . pretty . . . duh . . . . I mean. . . . how come you are not wearing old clothes like you always do ? I've never seen you wear a expensive, new dress . . . . . . . an' how come it looks like a maternity dress . . . . . . !?!" , stammered Leonard.

" My parents anniversary was yesterday, " began Mazie, " and they said that I could wear something really pretty when I went out with them to the Tiffany Lounge, in the downtown entertainment district, to celebrate. Then, this morning, I asked them if I could wear my dress again for Sunday morning services at church, and they said ' Yes, you can wear it all day. ' "

" That's O.K., I guess . . . . Well shoot !!! Wear what you want ! I don't care. I came here to win, Win, WIN ! " , declared Leonard.

" Git-R-Done ! Git-R-Done ! " , voiced Deedee in a comical tone.

" Eat your heart out, Leonard ! " , said Sherry in a quite whisper to herself.

In the chess tournament, there was a first round and a final round. The first two couples would play each other, then the two winners would play together in the final round. The first round match-up was determined by random selection. This Sunday, the draw for the first round had Sherry playing Mazie, and Deedee playing Leonard. After about an hour, during which Leonard would several times sneak a intimate peek at Mazie sitting at the other table, it was determined that Mazie would play Leonard.

" Yo, Sherry, you let Mazie win, didn't you ? " , exclaimed Leonard.

" No, I did not ! What makes you think that ?" , shot back Sherry.

" No matter, I'm winning again today with my can't-be-beat style. " , said Leonard confidently.

After almost an hour, during which Leonard would occasionally stare at Mazie's hands, and the pale, delicate pink fingernail polish that she was wearing, Leonard thought he had the game just about wrapped up. As he watched Mazie grasp her chess piece and move it, he began thinking about fingernail polish. He had already observed that many girls and women did not use nail polish these days.

"Did using nail polish made girls special ?", he silently and stealthily thought to himself.

"Did that make Mazie special ?"

"And why can't boys wear fingernail polish, if they wanted to ?"

"If a boy did paint his fingernails, would that make him special, too ?"

"What would happen if I . . . . . . . ?!?!?!?! "

As Mazie moved another chess piece with her pretty hands, Leonard, not realizing how distracted he had allowed himself to become, mused that, with her lovely looks and the "maternity" dress that she was wearing today, together with her generous, kind, and carefree personality, Mazie was indeed, at least for today, *special.* Then suddenly, much to his surprise and shock, Mazie yelled on her next turn---

" Check " , and on her next turn after that---

" Checkmate, Leonard ! I've won ! I'VE WON !!! What do you always say ? ' Sweet Winning ? ', ' Win Sweet ? ' ' Be Sweet ?' "

Leonard sat in his seat, silent for a change, and genuinely dumbfounded.

" To be dressed so nice, and to win today ! You go, girl ! " , exclaimed Sherry.

" I just can't believe it, you've won ! " , said Deedee with a wink in her eye for Mazie.

" Well, slap my behind with a melon rind, I can't believe it either. " , Leonard finally shouted out.

As was their custom, the four friends walked to the neighborhood Taco Bell restaurant. Sherry and Mazie walked together, as always, and Deedee walked a little behind Leonard. Deedee observed that Leonard was not angry, vindictive, or upset, just genuinely surprised. First time that he had lost in quite a while. At the Taco Bell, Mazie was the center of attention. The counter person asked her what the special occasion was ? An older couple wished the ' birthday girl ' the best on her special day, even though Mazie knew her actual birthday was not until next month. Everyone loved how Mazie looked wearing the little girl's party dress. After the meal, as the trash was being gathered up, Sherry leaned over to Mazie and half-whispered ' congratulations ' in her ear. Deedee overheard, and also quietly said congratulations to her for her effort today. For just a moment, Deedee thought, Leonard looked very self-conscientious and embarrassed. And in a surprise move, he then gently placed his hand over Mazie's hand and, so unlike himself, and ever so quietly congratulated her.

" ........... you're *special* ............ "

How very uncharacteristic of Leonard, thought Deedee.

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# Story Note---

The idea for the little girl's party dress that Mazie was wearing is from DeeDee's earlier dream (Chapter 2). It was the dress that the little girl wore to the party, and who bumped into Albert, causing his mixed drink to be knocked from his hand, and spilled on Deedee.

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