They Were Peculiar Creatures

It watched from afar…

From a hilltop overlooking the park. The trees covered in red and orange blanketed the hill against the bright morning like an umbrella. If one peered closely however, they would see what looked to be the silhouette of a figure, or perhaps a thing.

It watched as the humans below all scurried about, fixated towards their next destinations. One particular human stopped before the street clock near the entrance of the park. The human briefly stared at the moving dial before continuing on at a quicker pace. Always in a hurry. It had learned that was part of their nature. It could not blame them however, for their time was short.

The Thing arose from the bench and headed towards its own destination. It made its way down the hill and joined the stream of humans who paid it no mind. They rarely cared for things outside their own obsessions.

The Thing made its way toward its usual spot at the park. The outskirts where a series of tables and benches sat. The tables were all the same, with surfaces covered in black and white checkered patterns. When it looked towards its usual table, it saw a pair of humans it did not recognize.

“Over here,” a familiar voice called out from another table. It was the human named Nick. “They took our spot. So, it looks like we got ourselves an away game today.” The Thing sat down across from Nick. “I’m telling ya buddy. I got a good feeling today. Today’s the day,” Nick said as he rubbed his hands.

“That is what you said last time. You know you will lose, yet you keep challenging me. You are a peculiar creature, even for a human,” It replied. The pair of humans sitting near them looked over.

“This guy. Wins a few games!” Nick replied to the onlookers. This seemed to satisfy their curiosity as they returned to their own game.

They played. The Thing could calculate the optimal move for each one that Nick made. Nick of course, could not. Yet Nick had challenged it. He said miracles happened every day. He said it was part of the human experience. They played every Sunday.

“I was thinking about buying some land. Saw a nice patch of it the other day while I was driving,” Nick said as he moved his pawn.

“For what purpose?” It replied.

“To build a house. You know, so I can live in it. Who knows, maybe I’ll meet a girl. Have a wife and kids someday.”

“Then why do you not just buy a house.”

“I don’t know. I’ve always wanted to build my own house. Something special about living in a place you built with your own hands.”

The Thing moved its bishop. “If the whole point of a house is to live in it, it makes sense to give yourself the optimal time to do so.” Nick scrunched his face as he studied the table. The human took forever to make a move.

“I think the act of building a house is just as important as the house itself. Kind of like how they say the journey is just as important as the destination, you know?

“Who are they?”

“Never mind, but you get my point?”

“No.”

“Of course, you don’t.” Nick picked up his knight then placed it back on the table, in the same spot.

“You have to move that piece,” The Thing replied. Those were the rules. It was instructed so on the manual Nick had given it.

“Oh, come on! I’ve lost like seven-”

“Eight.”

“- Eight games. You’re really going to be a stickler like that?”

“Those are the rules.”

Nick sighed as he picked up the knight. He placed it on another spot on the table. It was a poor move. The game would be ending soon.

“I can see how one may learn from building a house,” The Thing said as it moved its bishop.

“Huh? Oh right, the house thing. Glad you see it my way. See? I finally taught ya something about being human.”

“One can learn how to use tools and architecture. Yet I already know everything, so that is pointless to me.”

Nick sighed. “Ok yea, but there is more to it than that. It’s like they say-”

“Who are-”

“Not important! The best things in life take time. The more work you put into something, the more valuable it feels. Knowing that I built the house, the memories make it that much better. Who knows, maybe when I have kids-”

“You mean if?”

“Shut up. If I ever have kids, it’d make it that much better knowing they’re living under a roof that I built. You’ll always look back and cherish the memories,” Nick said as he moved his bishop.

The Thing moved its pawn. “Your point is based on the construct of time, which is irrelevant to me. The time you are speaking of would be nothing more than a small speck to me. Nothing more than the time it takes to sneeze or yawn for you humans. One does not look back and cherish a yawn. In addition, I would eventually get bored of the house and move on, making the whole experience worthless.”

Nick sighed. “Well, you certainly know how to make a guy feel special.” A cold breeze blew by as Nick shivered. He reached into his backpack and pulled out a thermos. He poured the contents into a cup and offered it. The Thing stared back at Nick. He did this every time knowing full well it did not eat or drink.

“Just being polite,” Nick chuckled as he took a sip before wincing. “Ugh, this thing sucks. Never keeps my coffee warm.”

The Thing grabbed the thermos and held it for a few seconds before placing it back on the table. Steam came out from the open end.

“You always freak me out when you do stuff like that, you know,” Nick said as he took a sip, this time enjoying the warm black liquid. “But thanks.”

It moved its pawn. “Your move.”

Nick stared at the table then back at The Thing. “Could you at least pretend like you’re trying?”

“Why?”

“Never mind. Tell ya what. If I ever do end up buying that land, can I count on ya to come help me build the house? I know it’s dumb, but it’d mean a lot to me. Plus, I’m pretty sure you’d be way more helpful than a toolbox,” Nick said as he moved his king. The Thing pondered the question for a second. It was not sure why, for it had never pondered anything.

“Sure.”

A smile formed on the corner of Nick’s lips. “Thanks buddy.”

It was not sure why Nick was smiling. He had just lost. “You are a peculiar creature, Nick. Checkmate.”

The two continued their game of chess every Sunday. Nick eventually bought the land and built his house. The Thing helped. They made sure there was a checkered table and two chairs. Nick eventually met a woman and had children. Nick became very busy but he never missed a Sunday. Well, there were a few, but The Thing did not mind. They were always family related and The Thing did not mind Nick’s family. Nick eventually grew old and his time of playing chess was nearing its end.

***

The Thing entered the hospital. It made its way towards the room that Nick was in. He was gathered by his family who all looked up when The Thing entered. It held a folded-up chessboard and a box of pieces. It was Sunday.

Nick’s family all left the room to give them some time alone.

“Thought you’d skip town with that perfect record of yours, did ya?” Nick said from his bed. His once messy hair was almost gone and his skin was pale. The Thing caught its reflection against one of the shiny hospital instruments. It looked the same as it always did. They played once more. After all the years, Nick was only slightly better. Nick talked about his family, as he always did. The Thing listened. It knew Nick liked to talk about his family.

“So, you’re finally getting a grasp on the human experience there, huh?” Nick said as he moved his bishop.

“I do not know what you are talking about. You creatures still make as little sense to me as when I first arrived here.” The Thing replied as it moved its pawn. “You told me that you would beat me at this game. Yet you have not come close, not even once. You told me that you would beat me through an act of miracle. You said miracles happened every day and that they were part of being human. I am not sure I understand. You humans are peculiar creatures.”

Nick chuckled. “This guy. Wins a few games.”

It gave Nick a blank stare.

“Alright, alright. Hold your horses there, champ. This game ain’t over yet.”

It was. At least in The Thing’s mind. It already knew the series of moves that would occur that would lead to Nick’s loss. Nick placed his king where The Thing had predicted. The game was over. All it had to do was move its knight.

Yet, The Thing held its knight as it pondered. After a while, it placed the piece back on the board, in the same spot.

A smile formed on the corner of Nick’s lips. “You have to move that piece, or did you forget the rules?”

The Thing picked the knight back up and held it for a few seconds before placing it on a different spot. The smile now spread across Nick’s face. He moved his queen, taking The Thing’s knight. They continued to play, each taking their time.

“Would you look at that, checkmate,” Nick said as he placed his queen on the chessboard. “Thanks buddy.”

Soon after their game Nick’s family returned. The Thing asked if it could stay, to which everyone replied “Of course.” Several hours passed and Nick eventually grew tired. He closed his eyes to take a nap. Nick died surrounded by loved ones.

As The Thing looked upon Nick, it felt a peculiar feeling. The Thing was not sure where it was coming from or what it was, but it felt heavy. It hurt. It wanted the pain to go away, but it knew that would mean forgetting its time with Nick. The Thing did not want that. It wanted to hold on to those memories, for The Thing would look back and forever cherish its time with the human named Nick.

The End