When we’d finished dinner and the kids were full and happy, we played a four-person game of chess. With Kevin going up against Ken, and Jenny facing off with me. Kevin beat Ken easily, though he was mostly happy just to be able to play.

“Checkmate,” Kevin said, after about twenty minutes, to Hope’s happy applause.

“Wha—how—who—how did you do that?” Ken asked.

“Luck and experience,” Kevin said, doing his best to be a good winner.

“Oh,” Ken ...