"Hello," said the brown man, not even glancing up. "Would you like to play?"

Corey shrugged. "Don't you already have an opponent?"

The older man, seated across from the brown man chuckled. "Not for long. Lucy will be wanting me home soon."

"Ha," said the brown man, moving a rook across the board definitively. "You just don't want to admit I've got you beat. Check. Mate in four moves."

"Nathaniel, you young fool. Have me beat, do you? Take that!" The older man nearly slammed the piece on the board in excitement.

Nathaniel looked up at Corey finally, with a small quirk in the corner of his mouth, and winked briefly. "Simon, you really are too good for me," he said, tipping his king over on the board. "Win goes to you again."

Corey peered closely at the board as Simon gathered his things together and left. "How do you play?"

"However you like," said Nathaniel, setting the board up again. "I'll teach you the rules, but the game is up to you."

Corey shook his head. "Maybe I should be going."

"If you want," Nathaniel responded with a shrug. "But it's a good game. You'll miss out if you don't play." His gesture to the board was mild and inviting, yet compelling, and the required response was obvious.

So Corey made the obvious response and sat down.

Flashing the boy a quick smile, Nathaniel opened the game with his pawn. "May not seem like much, but your open can make the whole game. Watch careful."