Melissa

by Alex Gino

Once, George and Rick had been friends, or at least friendly. In second grade, there had been a class checkers tournament, and George and Rick had been the two best players. The final match of the competition had been close, with Rick barely winning after he’d been able to king his final piece. Even though George had lost, the two had still called each other Checkers Champs for weeks. In third grade, Jeff joined the class. Jeff had moved from California and wasn’t happy about it. He started a few fistfights and threatened most of the boys at first, including George. But Jeff settled in by October, and once Jeff and Rick became buddies, Rick wasn’t so friendly with George anymore. By winter break, Jeff and Rick were inseparable, and now it was as if the Checkers Champs were two kids who had known each other once, but had never met either George or Rick.

I just enjoy the writing here. The feeling of two friends growing apart is well-captured, and the final line brings it home.