Dunces Anonymous by Kate Jaimet Read Free Book Online

better than he was. He thought he made a few good plays, and sometimes he was even able to anticipate his opponent’s moves. But the best thing was the quiet. Nobody had to talk to anybody else. Nobody bossed anybody else around. Everyone just sat there and played. It was very peaceful.
    After the second game he had lunch with Magnolia in the cafeteria and told her about his close call at the registration table. Then they went back up to the gym to check the schedule for the next game. Josh was hoping he might play against Annie MacGregor, but no such luck.
    â€œLook at this.” Magnolia snickered. “You’re playing a kid called Wilmot Binkle at table nineteen.”
    â€œHmm,” Josh said as they made their way to the table. He didn’t think it was very nice to snicker at other kids’ names, especially since his own name tag said Wang Xiu .
    Wilmot Binkle was a sweaty kid. That was the first thing Josh noticed. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead. Sweat soaked the underarms of his Math Camp T-shirt. And when Josh shook his hand, it felt like he was squeezing out a damp, sweaty sponge.
    Behind Wilmot stood his dad, a tall straight-backed man with a pointy little beard and eyes like a hungry lizard. He scowled at Josh. Josh hoped that Magnolia, who was standing behind him, was scowling right back.
    â€œGood luck,” Josh whispered to Wilmot Binkle as they sat down to play. The kid shot him a look of despair. Then the match began.
    Josh didn’t know much about chess, but even he could tell that Wilmot Binkle wasn’t very good. To make matters worse, every time the poor kid lifted his hand to move a piece, his dad would cough or clear his throat or shuffle his feet. Then Wilmot would glance up at him, sweatily, trying to figure out what Mr. Binkle wanted him to do.
    Josh played a steady game, using the simple strategies he’d learned from his beginners’ chess book. He captured the opposing rook and both knights. Then Wilmot made a mistake and left his queen straight in the path of Josh’s bishop. Feeling both excited and guilty, Josh captured the queen. Five moves later, he put Wilmot’s king in checkmate.
    â€œGood game,” said Josh, extending his hand for Wilmot to shake. Wilmot reached his hand out, smiling, but the boy’s dad interrupted.
    â€œTell me,” said Mr. Binkle, pinning Josh with his lizardy eyes. “How did you get a name like Wang Xiu?”
    Josh, caught off guard, raised a fumbling hand to his name tag.
    â€œI…I was adopted,” Josh squeaked. He twisted around and looked at Magnolia. She stepped forward to stand beside him.
    â€œA likely story!” Mr. Binkle growled.
    â€œDad, please,” pleaded Wilmot. He shot an apologetic glance at Josh and tugged at his father’s shirtsleeve. But Mr. Binkle was already waving his arm at a tournament official, who began to make his way toward their table through the rows of kids, many still intent on their chess games.
    â€œWhat seems to be the problem?” said the official, arriving on the scene. He was a wooly-haired old man wearing a baggy suit and thick glasses, and he carried a sheaf of papers on a clipboard.
    â€œThis boy, who just beat my son, claims to be Wang Xiu.” Mr. Binkle pointed an accusing finger at Josh. “It’s obviously a case of fraudulent impersonation.”
    â€œI…I…,” Josh began, but he found himself, like Wilmot, breaking into a sweat under Mr. Binkle’s stare.
    â€œHe’s adopted!” Magnolia broke in, taking another step forward.
    â€œAnd who are you?” Mr. Binkle demanded.
    â€œI’m his twin sister,” said Magnolia. “Ping Xiu.”
    â€œOh, this is getting more and more unbelievable!” Mr. Binkle threw his arms in the air.
    Magnolia ignored him. She turned toward the tournament official and let out a deep, dramatic sigh.
    â€œYou see, sir, our mother was a Canadian