Rules of the Game

The story functions as an extended metaphor, the central characters of Waverly and her mother locked in an interpersonal game of chess, each trying to get what they want from the other. While Waverly’s expertise in the rules of chess grows throughout the story, Waverly’s mother comes to the metaphorical game with more experience and expertise about the rules of life. Even though Waverly ends the story engaged in an imaginary battle with her mother, the fact that Waverly is considering her “next move” (Paragraph 79) means that her mother is already victorious. Her mother’s goal is to ensure her daughter has more opportunities and freedom than she experienced. She achieves this goal seemingly without Waverly’s awareness.

The freedom that Waverly experiences is based on the sacrifices of her mother. She is fed well because her mother makes multiple meals each day, shielding Waverly from the realization that they are poor. The community supports Waverly’s pursuit of chess in large part because of her mother’s marketing. Her mother sits in the park while crowds gather to watch Waverly play, commenting on Waverly’s luck rather than her skill, perhaps to make the idea of a girl winning more palatable to the public. And Waverly can learn, practice, and play chess because of her mother’s commitment to not overloading her with household duties, schoolwork, and limiting gender roles.

Waverly’s mother issues several pieces of advice throughout the story, but only one does she offer twice: “Strongest wind cannot be seen” (Paragraphs 2, 77). While wind is a recurring symbol in the story. Each move Waverly makes in her metaphorical chess game is matched by an equally inventive move by her mother. But Waverly does not realize that her mother is not playing to win. Her mother’s goal aligns with Waverly’s—they both want Waverly to win. Waverly’s mother is willing to sacrifice herself to make that happen, establishing her invisible influence as the story’s “strongest wind.”