A Bold Opening Move

Resting right across the oversized checkered flagstones of the terrace was a carved wooden chess knight, standing nearly up to my chin! Someone had abandoned an afternoon game halfway through, leaving the board wide open. Naturally, I couldn't just walk past without making a move. I squared my shoulders against the horse's flank, dug my heels into a mossy stone seam, and gave the heavy timber piece a mighty shove forward. Skrrrt-thud! The felted base slid two squares across the slate before nudging a white pawn and pitching me flat onto my tail. I brushed off my blue shorts with a candid shrug. Clumsy footwork, sure, but a brilliant advance!