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CHESS MASTER Jacques has a position of modest prominence in a growing French corporation. Jacques is competent, well-liked, and ambitious. He has been an avid chess player for years. Jacques is Matthieu's boss. One day Matthieu challenges his boss, at work, to a friendly chess match over lunch. Jacques is pleased, impressed. They play. They play on several occasions. Seeing this, two other employees, Lucien and Remy, challenge Jacques to casual games of chess at work. They all play. Jacques is the superior chess player. He wins. Matthieu shows active interest in the game—far more than Lucien and Remy do. He asks Jacques questions about chess strategy. He asks questions about the grandmasters, about the history of the game. Jacques invites Matthieu into his home. Jacques' wife cooks them dinner. They talk strategy. They play. A reform movement sweeps down from the corporate office. There are concerns about productivity in the workplace. Matthieu contacts Jacques' superiors. He says that his boss, Jacques, is using company time to play chess at work. A number of other employees are involved. Matthieu is promoted. -murrayjames 08/25/08 |