The work day had dragged on. When it was finally time to clock out for the day Jacob wasn’t sure it could be true. He locked his computer for the weekend and swiped his badge on his way out.
By five o’clock Jacob’s stomach was howling for him to get something to eat. It’d been five hours since lunch, a small (and expensive) salad from the work café. Luckily he lived close enough to home that he could walk and have another meal under his belt within the hour.
Every day to and from work Jacob passed by the park. It wasn’t anything fancy, just some trees and green grass. There was space for a few families to fit some picnic blankets and a dozen tables set up for those wanting to play checkers, be it with friends or strangers. Every day he walked by, only looking at those enjoying the space but never partaking in its merriment by himself, but as he passed by the checkers he decided to stop and inspect one of the tables. It wouldn’t take much time just to have a look, he thought to himself, and if there was ever a day to do it it was a Friday evening with no looming plans pulling him home right away, aside from a grumbling stomach.
Jacob sat down at one of the tables and began inspecting the pieces. They were quite nice. He looked over and watched for a moment a couple older men playing a game against one another. Their pieces were slightly different, perhaps one of them brought their own set to play with.
“Care for a game?”
Jacob looked up and noticed a young woman standing at the other end of his table.
“I was just,” he paused for a moment, “I mean, yes.”
She took a seat and reached out with her hand.
“I’m Amy,” she said.
“Pleasure to meet you, Amy,” he replied. “Jacob. I’m a bit out a practice so I hope you don’t mind.”
“I’ll try to go easy on you.”
“Do you play here often?”
“Only when I see an open table on my way home from work. So,” her face turned red, “almost everyday.”
“I’m feeling a bit nervous about my chances already,” he replied, followed by a hearty laugh. “Who should go first?”
“Well I’m on the black side, so it’s me,” she replied. She slid a piece forward and then looked up to Jacob.
“Interesting,” he said. He placed his elbows on the edge of the table and interlocked his fingers. “Very interesting. I can tell you’ve done this before.”
“You’re going to drag this game out for as long as you can, aren’t you?”
He looked up and noticed her smiling back at him.
“It’s all part of my technique,” he replied.
“I’m sure it is.”
Jacob slid a red piece forward.
“So,” she said, “what do you do when you’re not playing checkers in the park, Jacob?”
“I usually sit at a desk or on my couch. I walk by here everyday before and after work too. Today was the first time I decided to take a seat. What about you?”
“We’re both living the dream if we can walk by this beautiful park each day. I work over at the office building on Main. We’re a little insurance company on the fourth floor.”
“Small world,” he replied, “I think we might work at the same building. I’m on the third floor. Accounting.”
“Do you like your job?” She skipped one of his pieces and removed it from the board.
“I see how you play now. Get me involved in a conversation so I lose focus. Well it won’t work. Well, okay, I’m not sure if I’m even any good at this so there’s a chance it’ll work.”
“Friendly banter is all part of the game. You never answered my question either.”
“About work? I suppose I enjoy it enough. They keep paying me so I must be doing something right. How about yourself?”
“It’s quite dreadful,” she looked up with a sly grin, “I’m only kidding. I enjoy it well enough. Can’t beat the hours or the walk, so there isn’t much to complain about there. It has been a while since I’ve done anything outside of work other than this however, so the work-life balance isn’t really all there.”
“Well,” he skipped one of his pieces over hers, “how about we hangout for a bit longer when this game is done?”
“Loser has to pay for dinner?” she asked.
“The stakes of this friendly game just got quite a bit higher. Not only is my good name on the line but now my wallet too?” He grinned. “You’re on.”
Looking for something more? Check out “One Town Over” on Kindle Vella!
John Prince’s life in Peak Creek seems perfect. He’s been seeing Cassandra Queen for six months and hopes to move in together. However, Cassandra resists the change, putting John’s romantic future into question. When an opportunity to advance at work opens up, John feels his luck turning around. Katie Young, a recent transfer at the firm, has other plans. Their rivalry collides when they have to co-present during a company retreat.