Queen Exchange

"What do you make of the recent assassination attempts of Prince Zekiel?"

Kwafo shrugs his shoulders, pushes his rook forward one space and presses the clock beside the chess board.

"I sacked a member of my staff today. They were joking about it. A young man from the other side of the river; I have not liked him since the day he started."

Xandru looks at his friend, smiles and brings his remaining Knight into play, hoping Kwafo will retreat his threatening Bishop. He presses the clock and leans back in his chair, stretching his arms.

"That meal has left me exhausted. Did you enjoy your rice Kwafo? I have a new head of staff now, he insists on growing the crops organically. Could you tell the difference?"

Kwafo shakes his head blankly and takes a pawn with his Queen, offering an exchange he knows Xandru is in no position to accept. He walks round to the other side of the table to look at how the game is developing from the perspective of his opponent’s seat. Xandru puts his arm around him.

"Tell me Kwafo, we have been great friends for many years" Xandru says, pushing a pawn forward. "We have been playing this game of chess for twenty minutes now and you have not said a word. What is it that makes you concentrate with such intensity today? You normally beat me with great ease while talking merrily. Why do you play in such silence?"

Kwafo sits back in his chair, looks at his friend for a prolonged time and swallows nervously.

"I was eating a sweet" he says, and realising Xandru is not going to accept the exchange of Queens, brings it back to its original space.