Sanatorium
Prompt photograph provided by Dale Rogerson.
Originally built to house the victims of World War One, and now extended to treat and control tuberculosis. Equipped with all it needed. It’s sweeping verandas looked out over verdant lawns and Scottish pines. A chess grand master sat teaching a novice the rules of the game. Others watched, debating… did this new comer pose a threat. Wondering would they be able mould him to their needs. Stella knew that they could for the grand master knew how to bate a trap. Dancing with wolfs would have been safer for the novice.
This Post Has 34 Comments
Great take Michael, chess is always a great metaphor in a story.
Kind of you to say so.. Iain
My heart goes out to the novice
Kind of you to say so, Neil
Queen’s Gambit!
The Indian Defence move… worked well for the novice
Wherever there are opportunities there is an opportunist. Such is the way of human nature. I pray the vulnerable remain safe from exploitation.
Human nature is a very apt description.
A peaceful, masterful setting for baiting novices indeed.
Indeed it was a beautiful location
Dear Michael,
This novice has his work cut out for him. Or maybe he should just run the other way.
Shalom,
Rochelle
The location was beautiful so he did not run,
The novice is in for some difficult times.
A challenge it was, but worthwhile it was
Lots of games going on in that ‘peaceful’ place!
Peaceful is just what it was
Plotting and scheming everywhere. A chess game, indeed. Interesting response to the prompt, Michael.
Thank you Margaret,
Well done, Michael, one of your best. Chess always complicates things for me 🙂
Thank you so much.
I expect patience is need to learn the finer points of chess. What else does the novice have to do, he is recovering from his illness.
An interest and captivating story, which I enjoyed reading.
Thank you James for such a fine comment
Interesting where this prompt took you. Chess, we know is a form of dance.
It certainly is, thank you Dawn
It doesn’t bode well for the novice. He should get out of there before he has a chance.
He had little choice but to stay, but he made many friends there
Great writing, Michael. So much intrigue and life in these few words, wonderful.
Thank you for a lovely comment
An interesting take on the prompt, well done.
Thank you Heather,
They say life is a chess match. I think the novice is about to learn a lot more than he bargained for.
He certainly was, but all turned out ok in the end
I wonder
I love the use of chess here. Will they fit in? Will they adjust? Nicely done
there were so many games being played, around the sanatorium