Manus Patrick Fealy
The best way to become a champion chess player is by playing over complete games. Manus’s stories and poetry are meant to lift you up between each game. After all, only chess and chess only, makes a tired chess player. Many of the things that the characters in the chess stories do are gained from the experiences of Manus’s childhood in the neighborhoods of Boston. So sit back, grab a board and the book and enjoy a tall tale, a poem and exciting games. Here’s a word from a grand checker player, his late father, God bless him: He said, “Manus, sharpen your gippy to avoid a bad turn.” So, he says the same to you. God bless and good chess.
Manus wanted to give something back to his community. So, he asked the librarians in his community if he could offer a chess program for the children. Well, the children asked many questions that he didn’t know. With his head held low he made his way to the local chess club and learned the game the right way. After countless games of chess he was finally able to go back to his library and teach the game with his head held high. He has taught hundreds of thousands of chess players to play the game forcefully. Enjoy the stories and don’t be surprised when your rating rises. After all, it takes a tall man to tell a tall tale. J
The Rook
Old Maestro walked the country road, past the town and down to the brook. It had rained the night before and the brook was filled to its banks. He slowed, looked up at the sky, and at the trees green with leaves and at the nests filled with life ...life that had yet to see the break of day and he sighed...
It was early morning. The Great Pawn Hunter and The Restless Knight were sitting by the brook and had their feet in the water. The chess players could see Old Maestro coming near with his cup in one hand and pushing a carriage in the other. The carriage was filled with empty bottles that Old Maestro collected and exchanged for five cents a bottle at the store. He was not a greedy man. He earned enough to get him through life, no more no less. Old Maestro's feet were sore from his morning walk. He came over to the chess players, sat down near them, and dipped his feet into the water. The chess players were eager to ask Old Maestro a question. "Old Maestro," said The Great Pawn Hunter, "how do you play chess?" Old Maestro smiled and motioned with his feet in the water. He wiggled his toes left and he wiggled his toes right, up and down, diagonally, and finally in a circle. The Great Pawn Hunter and The Restless Knight didn't know that Old Maestro was tracing the paths of the pieces with his feet in the water. "I'll tell you how I play," he said, "but, we must start at the beginning." The Restless Knight pulled out her pocket chess board for the old man…
