“Checkmate,” Acer says, leaning back in his chair with his fingers laced behind his head.
Pia studies the board, gently tapping the top of her king, before knocking it over with a sigh—admitting defeat.
“That’s three in a row,” she says. “Where did you learn to play chess like that?”
“My grandpa,” he replies, setting the board back up. “We used to play everyday after school when he was still living with us.”
“You don’t play anymore?”
“Not very much,” he says. “Not since he moved into Shady Acres—the senior living community. We only see him every once in a while now, which is kind of a bummer.”
“I hope he has someone there he can play chess with,” she says.
“I hope so too, but I don’t think they even have a board there. I always have to bring my own,” Acer replies, standing up from the table. “Anyway, I have homework to do. Thanks for playing with me, Pia. I really missed it.”
“Anytime, Acer,” she says, already distracted by what he said about his grandpa.
The next day, as Acer walks into headquarters, he finds Pia and the others spread out around the table in serious conversation.
“What’s up, everyone?” he asks. “Is there a new service project in the works?”
“You could say that,” Pia says. “Yours.”
“Mine?”
“Yup,” Global Girl says. “Pia told us about your grandpa and how he likes to play chess, but there isn’t a chess board at Shady Acres. It got us thinking that this is a perfect opportunity to Ignite Good! for the Elderly Badge!”
“Yeah,” Pia continues. “And it’s not just your grandpa and not just chess, there are probably a lot of people there who miss playing their favorite games.”
“That’s a great idea!” Acer says. “What do I have to do?”
“We were just working on that,” she says. “And I think we are already on to something!”
The Global Game Changers explain what they have come up with; a step by step plan to find used board games and then deliver them to Shady Acres. Acer thinks it’s the perfect idea, but he goes even a step further and suggests that they host an event on the same day, that way the Global Game Changers can hang out and play with residents. It will be a good thing, he says, for those of them who don’t get many visitors, and it’ll make sure that everyone gets an opportunity to enjoy it. They all agree.
Global Girl, Little Big Heart, Moxie, and IQ start by going door to door around their neighborhood, asking people if they had any old board games that they didn’t want anymore, and if they would be interested in donating them. Once they tell them about the cause, and how they are going to help the elderly, most people are more than happy to pitch in. Before they know it, every one of them is carrying an armful of donations.
Acer and Pia, on the other hand, go to Shady Acres to talk to management about wanting to donate the board games to the community, as well as have an afternoon dedicated to playing them with the people that lived there. The people that work there are excited about the idea, so much so that they even say that Pia and Acer can make fliers to hang around the hallways, advertising the event. There is a buzz among the residents already, Acer notices, and he knew that the games were going to be put to good use.
“Wow,” Acer says to Pia as they are leaving Shady Acres. “I can’t believe it is actually happening. I told my grandpa about it and he was so excited. He even said some of his neighbors are interested in learning how to play chess, that way, once they have some boards, they can have weekly tournaments. Isn’t that great?”
“It is,” Pia says. “And you can help teach them this weekend. I bet you never thought your chess talent could be used to Ignite Good! for so many people. It just goes to show that with the right super power equation and a little help from others, we can accomplish anything!”
“You got that right,” he replies. “What do you say we celebrate by playing a few matches, it’ll help us bone up on our skills before the weekend?”
“Sounds like a plan to me. I think I can beat you this time!”
“We’ll see,” Acer says, smirking.
They make their way back to headquarters and play for the rest of the night, Pia winning not just one, but two of the games. They even teach some of the others to play too, that way they can have their own little tournaments whenever they want.
