By Shanae Briggs
He''s 6 years old and deep in thought - almost still. Other children around him are talking and laughing, but not Brandon Johnson. He''s focused on only one thing as he watches his partner make a move - how to win.
His opponent quickly changes his mind and kills Brandon''s queen.
Brandon stops, frustrated. He looks up at his partner.
'Don''t you know the rule that if you touch a piece you have to move it?' Brandon asked.
It''s all part of Kid''s Chess at the Orem Public Library. And believe it or not, the tables are filled with children of all ages who are there for all kinds of reasons.
'It''s kind of a battle strategy,' said Tucker Knudsen, 10, from Orem, who came in with his Cub Scout group. 'I like it; it makes you think.'
Kid''s chess started in 1998 when Pat Castelli''s daughter needed to fulfill her Girl Scout Silver award requirements. Since then, chess has been every Thursday without fail.
'Someone''s always here to play,' said Castelli, the Children''s librarian. 'We have a volunteer who''s always here with the kids and if he can''t come, he gives me two months notice.'
Orem Public Library runs all their programs with dedicated volunteers like Michael Doering, who is in charge of Kid''s Chess. Because of the volunteers, the programs have built themselves up to be some of the best events.
Sasha Johnson brought her children and their cousins to Kid''s Chess for the first time. She traveled from Draper so her kids could play chess at the library.
'I looked all over for a place for my kids to play,' Johnson said. 'Orem and Riverton are the only libraries that provide it, and chess is good for them on so many levels. It teaches them some higher-level thinking skills and it''s good for them, socially, to meet new people.'
Some of the younger children made themselves comfortable by eagerly moving pieces in unconventional ways around the board.
Other children take the game seriously - in silence -knocking pieces aside as they capture each one. Some have serious strategy while others continue to learn.
'This girl beat me in like three moves,' said Brad Heaps, 10, from Orem. 'But I still like to play.'
Johnson said the best thing is to listen to the children.
'They teach each other more than I could ever teach them,' Johnson said. 'And I think it''s adorable to watch them coach each other.'
Kid''s Chess continues and parents come to pick up their children. The children are reluctant to leave, but know they will be back next week.
Always the children show respect to one another. At the conclusion of every game there is a silent nod and a handshake, followed by, 'Good game.' Then they look for the next opponent.