Entertain my Delusions

‘What? A game?’

‘Yes, precisely. A chess game.’

‘You’re mad.’

‘But you haven’t…’

‘Haven’t what?’

‘Haven’t even... heard me out!’

‘Well, I suppose it’s obvious …I’m quite sure, now, that you rocked that boat of yours just a little hard — a little too hard — the last time you went out for a row, on the lake. Perhaps, you leaned so far over the edge, that, Nessie herself, at the sight of your reflection in the water, got scared half to death, and abruptly departed from beneath your boat, which then caused a rather simple ripple, or wave, to produce a sort of tsunami — so massive down its length — that the entire planet shifted on its axis. Just imagine. And, that’s about the moment in time when you capsized! You fell right into that cosmic pond of yours and tore a hole through space-time. And, now, well, you’re trapped in this torus of a ring galaxy, somewhere. Yes, that’s it. You should get yourself checked out.'

'And you’re telling me that I’m the one who’s mad? Don’t be facetious!'

'Well, I’m rather quite serious. What they’d call you, is, ‘in denial.’ But, go on, then, explain yourself — I suppose I can lend an ear; to hear your train of thought; to connect all the wagons — otherwise, blimey, I’m not sure I can reconcile what you’ve just told me. Life, a... chess game. Ha! But, go on, explain yourself. I want to make sure you are not in need of... well, strong medication. Do tell me more, though. You mean to say, that you volunteered? That you weren’t persuaded, or coerced, or blackmailed, or even… bribed? That you went willingly, and on your own accord?’

‘Yes, I volunteered. That’s it. That's it, exactly. I signed up. I pushed some paper. There were, indeed, some checks along the way.’

‘Why in the hell’d you go and do such a thing?’

'Well, I suppose, that, I couldn’t resist. You see, Sir. With all due respect, of course; here you are sitting down in this comfort, in that chair, sipping that coffee, going about your day-to-day, and living in this sort of Goody the Two-Shoes bubble; this: "Go on, and tell me: how do you see ‘life?' monologue." You scribble here and scribble there, and you don’t really get it, do you? It’s all, rather, designed and constructed, precisely, so as not. to. rock. the. boat. But, I had had enough, I wanted to get in there — right in the water — on the inside, like some sort of a pioneer. You can say, to top off our little bullshit talk today, that, I was bored as hell. So, I signed some papers — yes! — and with lightning speed, I set sail.’

‘For what?’

‘Well, how about for a cause? You can say, I committed my person to some cause, that was greater than myself. I was a pawn.’

'A what?'

'A pawn is just a piece. A piece in the chess game. And, as a member of the board, it asks questions. But, even still, the pawn is the lowest-ranking member — a dispensable unit.'

'What for?'

'Well, you see, the game requires the use of your imagination. It is a game that is dolled out beyond the observable universe. And you, well, clearly, you do not see it. And, most everyone, here and there, and nearly everywhere, they don’t perceive it, either. It’s like a Force; maybe even, a sort of calling. There is, thus, a lot more to this world of ours than what you can possibly glimpse from out those great big windows — like here, for instance, in your bullshit office. But, just imagine, for a single minute, that I made it all the way — to the far end of the chessboard. Suppose, Sir, that I cleared a path straight on through to the other side, whilst few were paying attention. Too busy with their lives to notice any of the subtle changes — in the pattern of movements — or the gravitational pull. I wasn’t beaten, or captured; yet, I sauntered my way across — with just a few close calls along the way. What would you call it, then? What would you call me? An alien? I reckon I gained a rank or two, though, don't you think so?'