Letpchess original drawing
Random Thoughts Thursday Part 18
Choose Your Own Path
"Proudfoot's Way" by Eleanor Frances Lattimore was the name of the first book I actually read for enjoyment. I was 9 years old. I am not writing a review for this book, as honestly, I can't remember much about it except for the cat on the blue book cover. I just know that up until that point in my life, I was a struggling reader and avoided it at all costs. My mother handed me this book, and as I buried my mind in the pages of the story, my path was forever altered as to how I would later engage with the written word. Reading was still no breeze for me, but at least I had the motivation to try to read because I understood that there was an entirely different world that I could access in my imagination. To keep my momentum going, my mom searched for a variety of topics to engage my young mind. At some point in my early childhood, I was introduced to a series of "Choose Your Own Adventure" stories, and it completely changed how I could enjoy a book.
Recently, I was feeling rather nostalgic about these books because I have not been able to find such stories near where I live, and I would love to read them with my students. What's a teacher to do? Well, I have written about six stories at this point with my English students just so they could have the experience. I was so inspired that I decided to write a short example here, especially with the chess player in mind. I hope you enjoy where the story leads you; if not, start again and make different choices. When you have finished playing with the story, scroll to the bottom for some final thoughts.
The Story of an Average Chess Player
(A choose your own path tale... Watch out for the plot twist!)
It is a beautiful Saturday afternoon. You've already eaten your favorite breakfast and finished the last item on your to-do list. It is definitely time to enjoy what is left of the day. The work week was tough, and you've earned this play time. Everything you want to do takes so much time, but you have whittled it down to two choices: go to the gym for some exercise or head to the chess club for some pick-up games. It is a difficult decision since both your body and your mind could use a workout after sitting in a cubicle all week, but alas, the clock is ticking and you can only choose one thing.
If you choose to go to the gym, continue to Part A.
If you choose to go to the chess club, continue to Part B.
Part A
The gym "is calling your name," so you grab your workout clothes and head out the door. The weather is so perfect that you are almost tempted to go for a run instead just to stay outdoors, but you decide that weight training would be a better plan for today. You could take your car, but a walk in the sun seems more appropriate.
Continue to Part H.
Part B
The thought of sitting for several more hours doesn't exactly thrill you, but the excitement of a chess match with strangers does. Your favorite chess club in the park never disappoints. There are always people there playing various games, but when you visit, several stop what they are playing to challenge you to a game. You grab your bag of chess figures and clocks and walk to the club. From a distance, you can see a familiar person has come out to play today. You have played him a few times before, never winning, but always learning something new. He is the best in the club, a candidate to master, and, as far as you know, he has never lost a game in this club. In just a few more steps, you will be at the chess tables. Suddenly, you hear the voice of a friend you haven't seen in several months. "Hey there! Nice to see you!" You were pleasantly surprised, so much so that the thought of scratching all previous plans crosses your mind.
If you stay to play the candidate to master, continue to Part E.
If you decide to chat with your friend, continue to Part F.
Part C
You are so fortunate that a friend of yours is available to join the class with you. It is much easier to dance with someone you know than to try to partner with a complete stranger. In no time, you two have mastered the basic steps and even learned a few additional steps to add some style to your moves. You dance until you run out of steam, but the joy you feel when everything is in rhythm makes it nearly impossible to stop. Nevertheless, all good things must come to a close. You say your goodbyes to your friend, promise that there will be a next time, and follow the path towards home.
Continue to Part K.
Part D
The temptation is just too much since breakfast is now a distant memory. You take a coupon you were given earlier and walk to the grand opening of the restaurant down the street. You justify your choice by thinking that at least you are exercising a bit by adding this walk to the one you already took to the gym. The smells of your favorite cuisine capture you half a block away, and you know you have no regrets. You order your food, relinquish the coupon, and find a seat. So much for avoiding crowds. This place is more packed than the gym. Just then you hear a familiar voice say, "Hi, there!" It's an old friend you've known for 10 years. You haven't seen each other for over 6 months. Since the seating is limited anyway, you invite your friend to sit with you. Your food arrives, and for the next hour, you both enjoy your meal and conversation. Both of you don't want the conversation to end, so you suggest a walk in the park nearby to walk off your meal. Your friend happily agrees.
Continue to Part G.
Part E
Today there is a special visitor. He doesn't always play chess at the club these days, but every now and then this older man, a candidate to master, shows up to see if anyone might challenge his game play. It is intimidating to ask him for a match, but since he asks you, you agree to try. As expected, he wins with ease, but as a generous person, he takes his time to teach you several strategies before moving on to play a game with his friends. You'd like to stay and play another game, but that game with a strong player wore you out, and you are so hungry.
Continue to Part D.
Part F
"Wow! What brings you here?" you say to your friend.
"I'm promoting the grand opening of a new restaurant near here," your friend says. "Here, take a coupon for a free food item. Today only."
"It's so good to see you," you say. Perhaps you can promote the restaurant while we walk through the park to catch up.
"Or maybe you would like me to show you how to get to the café?" your friend says.
If you go for a walk in the park, continue to Part J.
If you walk to the restaurant, continue to Part I.
Part G
It is not often that you are so at ease in conversation with someone, and your topics flow from the serious to the comical to the mundane, but it doesn't matter; you are both having a great time. You seem to be drawn to some music that you can just start to recognize. Ah, yes, jazz. It seems that the park is hosting a free class for Lindy Hop, and the music you heard is accompanying the dancers. You stand mesmerized by the grace and style with which people move. If only you knew how to dance like that. You look out of the corner of your eye and see that your friend is grooving to the music too. Maybe this is your opportunity. The sign nearby did say free beginners class, and it would be starting in 10 minutes. Did you have the nerve to ask?
If you ask your friend to join the class with you, continue to Part C.
If you decide to part ways and make your way home, continue to Part K.
Part H
You arrive at the fitness center and see that there is a special event being held today. "Just great," you think, "I wasn't planning on this crowd." You would much prefer to block out the world while listening to your favorite jazz tunes and deadlifting a barbell. Curiosity gets the better of you, and you decide to take a look around the center to see what new things they are promoting. It turns out that they have organized some aerobics classes to add some variety for their patrons, and they are promoting a new healthy restaurant in town. There are tables displaying the schedules of the classes and the menu of the new restaurant. It turns out that the classes are for dance lessons, and the restaurant is offering a coupon for one free item today only as a grand opening celebration. You feel completely sidetracked. You came for your routine workout, but these new opportunities are intriguing. You have never stepped foot in a dance studio, but the musical style of Lindy Hop and jazz of the 1920s and 30s is drawing you in. One look at the appetizing menu on the next table, and you are starting to feel hungry for lunch. Choices, choices...
If you decide to check out the dance class, continue to Part C.
If you want to grab a quick lunch, continue to Part D.
Part I
It is so wonderful to try new experiences with a friend. The food at this new place is AMAZING! They have all your favorite cuisine, and with your coupon in hand, the price is definitely right! Not much went according to your original plan, but you certainly can't complain. You say your goodbyes to your friend with a promise for future outings and walk towards home.
Continue to Part K.
Part J
A walk in the park sounds like a great plan. You want to soak up the sunshine while you can; besides, walking away from a crowd to have a quiet conversation has always been more your style. You walk and chat. No topic is off-limits. It is such a great conversation, but all this walking IS making you hungry! You and your friend agree that a lunch break is in order.
Continue to Part I.
Part K
What an amazing day of sunshine and fun! You feel so accomplished by your good decision to get out of the house today. Your thoughts are interrupted by the sound, "Click... beep... " Oh no! Checkmate! You were so caught up in your fantasy story in your mind that you lost the game you were playing on Lichess! How long have you been spacing out? How many moves did you play on autopilot? Ugh! You hate when that happens. Yes, it is definitely time to get out of the house today. It is, after all, a beautiful Saturday afternoon. "Now let's see," you think to yourself, "should I go to the gym or the chess club in the park today?"
The End!
Final Thoughts
In the story I wrote above, I took the time to control the final outcome. Usually, when I write these, the fate of the main character changes depending on the whims of the reader. This time, I wanted to explore a deeper thought. We all have decisions to make in life, and we choose which path to take. Do you think that our choices change the outcome of our lives, or do you think that we will end up in the same place we are destined to go, only we get to choose the adventures we have along the way? In the story I wrote, some paths seemed to have more options, more creativity, and more adventure along the way, but other paths had more "forced moves," if you will. In real life, for example, I live in a certain place and I work at a certain job. If I had made different choices when I was younger, would I still be sitting in this very apartment that I am in right now? These truly are some random thoughts for my Thursday post. In my mind, I can understand several paths that would have led me to the very place I am now. I can also imagine my life being very different if I had yielded to some bad ideas when I was younger. I'm providing no opinions or answers here; I'm just stirring the pot to provoke some food for thought. Maybe you like this sort of exercise for the mind. If not, I hope, at a minimum, you were entertained by my story. It was challenging to make it gender-neutral and relevant to all age groups here on this site. My hidden agenda as a teacher was to perhaps inspire some writers here to create their own intricate stories. It is a fun challenge for the brain if you take it to a deeper level than my time allowed for this post.
Well, if you stayed with these thoughts all the way to the end, I commend you! You are a trooper! I wish you joy and adventure!
Cheers!
