Pieces

“remember checkers?” she looked out the car window, he nodded, and for a moment saw the great roots by the gymnasium that must have been there for centuries. There was a particular root the kids would use as a chair that must have been as big as the two when they held each other. He remembered checkers, wondering what that had to to with Massachusetts. He saw the root again, and the board balanced on it carefully. They used the red squares and, she always knocked the board over before anyone could win. knowing that she remember the root, he asked if they did any additions to the gym. knowing what he meant, she lied, shaking her head no. the dark horizon was disrupted by a red car. he saw the root as she went inside from recess, and he stayed behind to pick up the pieces.