‘He won’t be any trouble, Mr Tribble,’ I said. But Mr Tribble seemed worried. Next day was the big chess tournament at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Mr Tribble and I got there early, and I had to play chess all day. It took me about seven minutes to win the first game, and half an hour to win the next. I played all that day, and the next. And suddenly I was in the final, playing with a Russian, Honest Ivan, the best player in the world. He was a big man, with long black hair, and he didn’t want to lose! It was a long game. Honest Ivan was good ─ very good. But just when Honest Ivan seemed to be winning, Sue ran across the room and jumped onto the chess table! Honest Ivan fell off his chair, and everybody started screaming and running everywhere. ‘Let’s get out of here, Forrest!’ shouted Mr Tribble. We got back to the hotel and hurried up to our room. ‘Forrest,’ said Mr Tribble, ‘You’re a wonderful chess player, but I never know what’s going to happen next! Here’s half of the money that you’ve won ─ it’s almost five thousand dollars. Take Sue back to Alabama with you, and start your shrimp business.’ He shook my hand and gave me his address. ‘Write to me sometimes, Forrest. Good luck!’
Chapter 11
The Shrimp Business
Well, I finally went home to Mobile again. The train got into Mobile station about three o’clock in the morning, and Sue and I got off. We walked into the town and finally found a place to sleep in an empty building. The next morning I bought some breakfast and got Sue some bananas to eat. Then we went to see Mom. She was pleased to see me. 35
