When I first met Rendi he was a
bright eyed little boy in the second grade. I liked him from the start and
thought he was a very smart student. Little did I know he would become the
chess champion, not just of the second grade, but also of the school.
During that
school year my volunteer friend Tony brought his son, high school student
Anthony, to school to start a chess club. I will admit I was a bit pessimistic
about the success of having a chess club at StarShine. Anthony was sure it would work and he was
right. Rendi took to it like a duck to water and learned to play chess very
quickly. Other children enjoyed playing also and what a picture it was to see
the after school kids pouring over chess boards.
Rendi and
Anthony connected and he soon became the best chess player, not just among the
second graders, but in the whole school – kindergarten through high
school. Not being content with playing
chess after school, Rendi began calling Anthony, begging for a chess game over
the phone. I understand they had many such games.
It was a sad
day for Rendi when Anthony went east to college. Unfortunately, that was the
end of chess at StarShine. I was never able to find another volunteer to take
over the chess club. Almost every day when I saw Rendi he would ask me if we
would have chess again. I really felt that I had let him down.
This year
Rendi transferred to another school. I miss him and sincerely hope he has found
a chess club and has become the Chess Champ once again.
By Lois
Jamieson
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