Lesson Fourteen: “Kangaroo Moves”

"Give it up King! We've got you surrounded!"

"That's right, you're trapped!"

King Mateo looked around the board. Shimmering blue force fields blocked his every escape.

“That’s it,” he thought. I’m done,”

King Korben’s team danced around him.

“Checkmate, we got you! Haha ha ha ha ha!”

King Mateo felt his face burn with shame as his opponents chanted…

“No, you're never gonna win, no you’ll never win it,

never gonna win, never gonna win it!”

Dizzy with embarrassment, King Mateo fled the garden board and bumbled his way into the safety of his den. His father’s voice echoed in his memory “There are old ways kings protect themselves.”

“That might’ve been true once, but now? How can I protect myself now?” he mumbled.

Crash! 

“Oh no! My mother’s favorite vase!” he stopped his march and stared at the floor as water from the broken vase puddled and spread. Overwhelmed, King Mateo collapsed into his favorite furry chair.

“Wilbur!!” he cried out.

Wilbur, the butler, dashed in, slid through the spilled water across the floor and knelt beside the King.

“I’m here, sir,” Wilbur said gently. “Tell me, what’s happened?”

King Mateo buried his face into his hands. Tears spilled down his strawberry cheeks. “Losing is hard. I didn’t know how to protect my team… or myself.  And on top if that, Korben’s team was so mean. I just felt so helpless."

Wilbur’s blood boiled. “Unacceptable!! Losing a game should never lead to taunts or bullying!” he thought to himself. Wilbur then took a deep breath. If he wanted to comfort King Mateo he’d need a cool head. Clearing his throat, he said to the king, “That would make anyone feel helpless.”

“I know it’s just a game. And, in real life, I know I’m safe. But…” King Mateo hesitated. “Feeling like this makes me miss my parents so much. They left to help find a cure… but they promised they would return once the Long Break ended. What if they don’t?”

Wilbur’s heart ached. But he knew it was time… Wilbur rose to his feet, turned to the den door, and called out softly, “Korben, please come in. And bring our new guests with you.”

On cue, Korben burst into the room, followed by two penguins with feathers that looked like tiny tuxedos.

Curious, King Mateo raised an eyebrow. The penguins remained silent as Korben spoke.

“Matti, I’m so sorry we teased you. It was wrong of us. We were the sourest of sports. Win or lose, that won’t happen again.” Flushed, Korben lowered his head.

King Mateo nodded, but his thoughts were elsewhere. His eyes lingered on the penguins. “And how may I help you both?” he asked the birds.

Mr. Tuxingham bowed. “Actually, King Mateo, we’re to help you.”

“Help me??” King Mateo blinked.

“Yes King, we’ve heard you haven’t been feeling yourself and we’ve come to help. You see, we too, know the pain of separation. Let us explain. You see, our story begins with the laying of a single egg.”

“An egg???” interrupted Korben.

“Sshhhhh” hissed Wilbur.

“Yes, an egg,” continued Mr. Tuxingham. “Each winter, after the penguin mothers lay an egg, they embark on an journey. But as it’s too dangerous to bring the egg along with her, she leaves it with us fathers. We stay behind and incubate it - keeping the egg safe from the cold. But now comes the difficult part. The mums leave for the distant sea. There, they’ll collect food for the baby chick soon to hatch.”

“So you’re left all alone?” asked King Mateo.

“Not alone,” said Mr. Tuxingham. “A penguin alone, like a King, is easy to trap. Having help nearby is much safer. So we papa penguins huddle together for support and protection. After all, winter in the Antarctic means fierce cold, blinding blizzards, and cunning predators,” Mrs. Tuxingham lifted her eyes to King Mateo’s and for the first time, spoke. “Giant egg eating Petrels with wings that block the sun.”

Mr. Tuxingham nodded and continued. “But together we papa penguins endure.”

The penguins’ story sent shivers down Wilbur and Mateo’s spines.

“And how does this helps me feel better in life and in chess, Mr. Tuxingham?” asked King Mateo.

“Well, after years of enduring these winters, we’ve developed a set of codes or patterns for outsmarting both danger and despair. These patterns keep us safe.

King Mateo leaned forward. “Really?”

“Yes, look. Here in this ancient manual.” Mrs. Tuxingham reaching in her feathered pocket and revealed a tattered book with a lock on its front cover. “You’ll need a key to open it.” she said.

“A key? What kind of key?”

“An unusual one. Trust.” replied Mr. Tuxingham.

King Mateo frowned. “What?”

“Yes, it sounds odd, but without it, we can’t move forward in life. We won’t learn to believe in ourselves or others, we won’t feel comfortable taking calculated risks, and we’ll miss out on the best of adventures! And what is life or chess without a little adventure?”

King Mateo nodded. He pictured his team, his friends. And then he pictured his parents and all the times they kept their promises and proved themselves trustworthy. It was their pattern. In that moment, he knew. His parents would do everything possible to return home. King Mateo felt his jaw loosen and his shoulders soften.

An invisible weight lifted off his small frame.

Click.

The ancient book was unlocked.

Mrs. Tuxingham placed the worn book in his hands. The yellowed pages fell open. Page 23. A single word.

King Mateo’s breath stilled. “Castling!”

He gasped. “This is it! An ancient move that brings help closer and keeps the King safe! It’s a bit like how the penguins huddle together! But we’ll need to find a pair of kangaroo pants to pull it off!”

Suddenly… whoosh!

In his excitement, the ancient book slipped from his hands and flew towards the fireplace. A crackling fire blazed. Bodies flew this way and that, hoping to catch the book before it was forever destroyed by the mouthy flames.

“Got it!” Wilbur cried out, snatching it from it’s fiery fate.

As Wilbur brought the book to his chest, an envelope escaped from between it’s pages and fluttered to the floor.

King Mateo’s eyes widened. “I know this writing!”

“Open it,” said Mrs. Tuxingham.

Inside was a letter.

“Darling boy, For centuries, this ancient code book has travelled the world over. From one worthy player to another it was passes on. We trust you’ll use it wisely. And keep it safe. Until soon darling boy. All our love. Your adoring Parents.”

King Mateo’s chest blazed with a fiery hope. For the first time since the Long Break began, he felt his parents love. And with it, he knew he could do anything.

“I hope this means you’re ready for a rematch?" asked Korben cheekily.

King Mateo grinned. “Absolutely. After-all, I’ve got a new move to try.”

And so, King Mateo was ready to play again. This time, he was armed with strategy and skill. But also courage, trust, and teamwork.

Would you like to see King Mateo’s new move in action? Let's learn how to castle!