ch5) earlier 3.20pm

“Good afternoon, dear,” said the old lady, “I don’t suppose you could help me across the road? I’m having a little difficulty. Not as quick as I once was.”

Zobe was a bit confused because there was absolutely no traffic on the road, but she didn’t want to make a fuss and agreed to help the old lady.

She introduced herself.

“Oh!” said the old woman, clapping her hands together in delight, “what a polite young lady you are! My name is Gladys. I’m very pleased to meet you.”

Zobe contemplated the road for a moment and took Gladys’ hand. “Pawn to King Four,” she said (predictably) and watched as the black knight jumped forwards in response.

Trying to plan ahead, and to ignore the large chainsaws that the opposition’s bishops were wielding, she stretched to see across the board. It seemed that she was contemplating the board for hours, but finally she remembered a special set of moves that her uncle had taught her when she was very young. They were guaranteed to win any game of chess. She struggled to remember the name of the moves. Ah yes! That was it. The Tche-ts. Employing them with deadly skill, she worked her way around the board with Gladys, and in just a few minutes they were standing safely on the other side of the road.

“Thank you so much,” said Gladys, “let me buy you an ice cream.”

Zobe was very pleased. The day was warm and the journey to the manor house was turning out to be quite tiring. She accepted the offer graciously.

Gladys turned and walked a few steps along the pavement, where she started speaking to thin air, apparently ordering two choc-ices. Zobe was about to step in and explain that there was no shop there when Gladys came back, holding out an ice cream.

Zobe decided not to bother, and enjoyed her creamy ice.