A Step Beyond the Line

I set my base against the dark groove dividing the chess board from the bare tabletop. The board had sixty-four squares, but the open wood beyond had no visible grid. I rocked forward slightly to test the friction. My green felt base slipped smoothly across the polished oak. Exactly three inches out, a scattered pile of brass paperclips formed a small metallic barricade. I stopped. I nudged one clip aside with my round head, clearing a straight path ahead. The space is vast, but manageable one length at a time.