Running away

There was one duty I couldn't avoid -- accompany my mother on Saturday market days when I had no tournament to play =( I just can't stand it! My mother walks proudly with me, visiting many shops and buying very little. [._.] Why can't she just pronounce my name correctly? 'Wave-le Jong'? It's Waverly Jong, Mum!

That day, I told her not to go round telling everyone about me. She was like .. "Aiii-ya. So shame be with mother?" And I went like LOL. XP But obviously I didn't say that .. I was like 'It's embarrasing .. '

Then her fire started asking if it was really that embarrasing. (Obviously it was!!)

Not wanting to pour oil over the fire, I questioned her why not take up chess and stop going around boasting to other about ME! ~~silence~~

I could not take it anymore!! I ran off. I knocked into an old lady (sorry!) and her groceries were spilled onto the ground.

I was insulted. The 2 ladies called me stupid. I continued running away. (Mum was helping the old lady picked the groceries up .. )

Mum kept screaming, "Meimei! Meimei!" I ignored her and continued raceing down the street, dashing between people. I ran until it hurt and realized I had nowhere to go, that I was not running from anything. There was no way I could escape. (oh no! :/)

It was cold. I sat down on an upturned plastic pail, thinking hard. I imagined my mother, first walking down streets looking for me, then giving up and return home to wait for me. Then, I stood up slowly walked home. Ouch! My legs were numb sitting there for 2 hours!

When I was outside my house, I turned the knob -- the door was locked! (sigh~ how unlucky .. D: ) When I got home, Vincent said I was trouble. I knew I was going to be punished, so I stood there, as Mum began nagging. How naggy! XP Nobody looked at me ..

As I lay down on my bed, in my head, I saw a chessboard with sixty-four black and white squares. Opposite me was my opponent,who wore a smile =D. "Strongest wind cannot be seen, " she said. Ha! Is she trying to look down on me? Dream on .. =P

I closed my eyes and pondered my next move ..

Waverly =)
P.S.: I totally have got no idea why this post is particularly long .. XP

The Good Thing about being a CHESS EXPERT!

I no longer played in the alley of Waverly Place. I no longer visited the playground. I went straight home to learn new chess secrets, cleverly concealed advantages and more escape routes right after school. --Am I really that discipline?? I guess so .. heehee =B --

It's difficult to concentrate at home .. With Mum watching me while I plotted out my games. She real irritating .. Shoo-oo! =)

I told her about her irritance one day. No matter how, she somehow would find a way to watch over me -- as if she's my 'guardian angel' .. LOL --

Ah-Ha! Every since I became an expert in chess, Dad and Mum gave me what ever I wanted! Yay!:D I said that my previous room was really noisy, that I could not concentrate. So my brothers had to sleep in a bed in the living room facing the street. I said I couldn't finish my rice, as my head didn't work right when my stomach was full. So I could leave the table with half-finished bowls and nobody complained. =) Tee-Hee!

I'm tired. Nights~ =)

Wavely

Ninth birthday

I'm 1 year older now! 9 years old and I'm a national chess champion. I'm still about 429 points away from grand-master status, but I was touted as the Great American Hope, a child prodigy and a girt to boot. They ran a photo of me in Life magazine next to a quote in which Bobby Fischer said, "There will never be a woman grand master." "Your move, Bobby," said the caption. Haha .. He's WRONG! I'm gonna be one! =D

The day they took the magazine picture I wore neatly plaited braids. I was playing in a large high school auditorium Seated across from me was an American man, about the same age as Lau Po. I remember that his sweaty brow seemed to weep at my every move.

In my crisp pink-and-white dress, I clasped my hands under my chin, the delicate points of my elbows poised lightly on the table. (That was what Mum taught me) I swung my shoes back and forth, then I would pause, suck in my lips, twirl my chosen piece in midair as if undecided, and then firmly plant it in its new place, with a smile thrown back at my opponent for good measure. (That's the way to scare your opponents! haha)

Mum's nagging at me again .. Byeess!

Tata~
Waverly

More tournaments, more tournaments and MORE tournaments!

No time to blog! :X I had been attending tournaments, each one farther away from home. I won all games, in all divisions. The Chinese bakery downstairs from our flat displayed my growing collection of trophies in its window. The day after I won an important regional tournament, the window encased a fresh sheet cake with whipped-cream frosting and red script saying "Congratulations, Waverly Jong, Chinatown Chess Champion." (Thanks a lot .. I really appreciate it! =D ) Soon after that, a flower shop, head-stone engraver, and funeral parlor offered to sponsor me in national tournaments. That's when my mother said that I no longer had to do the dishes. So Winston and Vincent had to take over. (p.s.: I'm so sorry kors .. really sorry =( )Kay, have to go get some practice for coming up tournaments! Bye! Wish me good luck! heehees .. =)

Waverly

Mother's triumphant

At the next tournament, I won again, but it was my mother who wore the triumphant grin.

"Lost eight piece this time. Last time was eleven. What I tell you? Better off lose less!" I was annoyed, but I couldn't say anything

My first tournament

During my first tournament, when my name was called, I leapt up. Then, Mum unwrapped something in her lap -- it was her chang, a small tablet of red jade which held the sun's fire. She told me that it was 'luck'. My first opponent was a 15-year-old boy from Oakland. As I began to play, a light wind began blowing past my ears. ~SECRETS~ "Blow from the South" "The wind leaves no trail." I saw a clear path, the traps to avoid. The wind blew stronger. "Throw sand from the East to distract him." "Blow, blow, blow. He cannot see. He is blind now. Make him lean away from the wind so he is easier to knock down."

Mum placed my first trophy next to a new plastic chess set that the neighborhood, Tao society, had given me. As she wiped the trophy, she told me to win more tournaments and lose less. And I was like sometimes I have to lose pieces to get ahead. She doesn't really understand chess ar? Then she was like "Better to lose less, see if you really need." What does she mean? Huh?

Local Chess Tournaments

Heyy readers! Just a short-n-sweet post here! =)

Today, a man who watched me play suggested me to play in local chess tournaments. My mother smiled, which meant nothing to me. =) I really wanted to go but I decided not to. I knew she would not let me play among strangers. So as we walked home I whispered that I didn't want to play in the local tournaments, as they had American rules and if I were to lose, I would bring shame to the family. "Is shame you fall down nobody push you' said Mum.

Yay! I feel so happy hearing that! =D

Cheers!
Waverly PJ

Is it LUCK or my SKILL?

Is it my LUCK or my SKILL? .. Read on .. =)

It's the end of summer! Lao Po had taught me all he knew about chess and I have became a better chess player. Whoots!! ;) This was a somewhat like a routine .. During the weekends, a small crowd of Chinese people and tourists would gather as I played and defeated my opponents one by one. My mother would join the crowds during these games. She would sit on the bench and tell my admirers with proper chinese humility, 'Is luck.'

CAN'T STAND HER! Why can't she just tell my admirers "Is skill."At least this would give me some encouragement, making me have confidence and do better. How could she be like this?

dog tired after going to the market with Mum ealier today. Early nights~

Wavely

Fine Points of Chess Etiquette

Today, Lau Po taught me the fine points of chess etiquette :

1. Keep captured men in neat rows, as well tended prisoners.
2. Never announce 'Check' with vanity, lest someone with an unseen sword
slit your throat.
3. Never hurl pieces into the sandbox after you have lost the game, because then
you have to find them again by yourself after apologizing to all around you.

Thanks Lao Po!

Waverly =)

New Secrets Flooding my Mind

Haven't been blogging lately .. But over the weeks, i've added new secrets. Lau Po gave me the names for my new secrets. The Double Attack from the East and West Shores. Throwing stones on the drowning man. The sudden meeting of the clan. The surprise from the sleeping guard. The humble servant who kills the king. Sand in the eyes of advancing forces. A double killing without blood.

So many new secrets! My mind's FLOODING!

Having a New Friend ..

I detoured through the playground at the end of our alley. I saw a group of old men, two seated across a folding table playing a game of chess set, others watching. I immediately ran home and grabbed Vincent's chess set which was in a cardboard box. I also carefully selected two prized rolls of Life Savers and went back to the park. I approached a man who was observing the game and asked him if he wanted to play. His face widened with surprise, as he said that it has been a long time since he played with dolls. (do I look like a doll?!?) I quickly put the box down next to him on the bench and displayed my retort. Lau Po, as he allowed me to call him, turned out to be a much better player than my brothers!

I ended up losing many games and my precious Life Savers! ~sad~

I'm in a bad mood today .. Don't bug me!

Waverly

What is Chess?

Today was kinda interesting .. Except the fact that my head's "over-flowing" with chess tricks .. haha ..

Today, I went to the Chinatown Library and borrowed books about chess and studied each piece trying to absorb the power each contained. I learnt the opening moves and why it's important to control the centre early on; the shortest distance between two points is straight down the middle.

I learnt about the middle game and why tactics between two adversaries are like clashing ideas; the one who plays beter has the clearest plans for both attacking and getting out of traps.

I learnt why it's essential in the endgame to have foresight, a mathematical understanding of all possible moves, and patience; all weaknesses and advantages become evident to a strong adversary and are obscured to a tiring opponent.

One must gather invisible strengths and see the endgame before the games begins.

Ehh, I just realised how tough it is to understand chess .. LOL.

I learnt a lot on chess .. I should give my head a rest .. And recall the tricks one by one .. Tee-Hee! =)

Byeess!

Cheers,
Waverly PL

Learning The Rules of Chess

It's the Christmas Week!
Today, I watched my brothers play chess. I realised that the chessboard seems to hold elaborate secrets waiting to be untangled and the chessmen were more powerful than Old Li's magic herbs that cured ancestral curses. My brothers played so seriously that I knew that something was at stake greater than avoiding the tradesmen's door to Hong Sing's.

I begged for them to let me play but they refused but when my Lifesavers as replacement for the buttons filled in for the missing pieces, he relented. He chose the flavors: wild cherry for the black pawn and peppermint for the white knight. Winner could eat both.

Vincent explained the rules of chess to me but I still can't understand why the pawns can't move more steps!

P.S.: If you do know why, please comment this post. Thanks! =)

Cheers!
Waverly PJ

What a present

Christmas has come ..

I went for the annual Christmas party at the First Baptist Church, at the end of the alley. I figured out that big gifts were not the nicest ones and that the sounds produced by the gifts were not important. So, when it was my turn to pick my gift, I fingered the remaining presents, testing their weight, trying to imagine what each contained. In the end, I picked a heavy, compact box, which was wrapped in shiny silver foil and a red ribbon. It was a 12-pack of Life Savers.

For the rest of the day, I rearranged the sweets over and over again, according to my favourites. Winston received an authentic miniature replica of a World War II submarine. Vincent received an incomplete chess set, that was being used before.

I wasn't very pleased with my mother's behaviour. She was sarcastic when she thanked the unknown benefactor. At the church, she said it cost too much, however, at home, she told Vincent to throw it away. But my brothers ignored her.

I just can't stand it! Argh!

Chinese Torture

Today, when my mother was having a hard time combing my tangled hair, I told her that some boy in my class said that Chinese people do Chinese torture and asked her what it meant. She answered that Chinese do many things, such as medicine, business and painting, unlike the lazy Americans, and that we do the best torture. I knew that my mother was indirectly referring to my tangled hair. LOL.

I should let my hair rest now ..

Ta~

Being Chased .. =)

This evening, I was outside Hong Sing's cafe, with a group of friends. I met a Caucasian man, who asked us to move aside, so that he could take a photo of the roasted duck inside. After he took a photo, I told him to have his dinner at the cafe. When he asked what they had, I shouted guts and duck's feet and octopus gizzards and ran off (haha! =p), with my friends trailing behind. I hoped he gave chase but he didn't.

The Art of Invisible Strength

Last week, my mother taught me the art of invisible strength. It was to help win arguments and respect from others.

Later, I yanked my mother into a store that sold salted plums. Using the technique of invisible strength, she said, 'Wise guy, he not go against the wind.' and that 'Strongest wind cannot be seen.'

Today, when we went into a store that sold forbidden candies, I didn't pester her. This 'invisible strength' I used, made her quietly buy a small bag of plums for me.
I finally understand how useful the invisible strength is. =)

Signing off,
Ta~
Waverly