I am thinking

about the tenth thing

I want to teach you

for a very long time.

And it is this:

I frown.

‘Something wrong?’ asks the teacher.

‘I . . . don’t . . . know . . . It’s a letter from my granddad, but it doesn’t make sen—’ I turn the paper over and smile.

Felix.

Never

Ever

Give

Up!

Knockout

It feels like all the lights in the hall have been turned off, except one. And it’s burning down like a searchlight on my hair, through my head into my skull. The clock clicks slowly, like every second is a minute. I take a deep breath.

My heart is as calm as the sea. My head is as clear as the sky.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

It’s just me sitting at a chessboard with the darkness around me. It’s like I’m dreaming, like I’m in Granddad’s sitting room back home.

I stare at the board. My knights have been captured. One of my bishops and one of my rooks too. The enemy has attacked me and left me wounded like a soldier on the ground. I hear the sound of gunfire and I can’t see because there’s smoke all around me, but with the gunfire I hear soldiers screaming and shouting for help. And I want to shout too.

Load the cannons.

Fetch our bayonets.

Get the medic. I’m hurt and I’m bleeding.

Pick me up and run for the hills.

But wait.

The smoke is clearing. The gunfire has ceased.

I look down at my stomach. The bleeding has stopped.

Never ever give up.

I lean on my rifle. I used up all the weapons Granddad gave me.

Tick . . .

Tick . . .

Tick . . .

Is it really over?

Is there nothing else I can do?

I lift up my head. See Jake. See Mr Keytes. See Rebecca. See hundreds of pairs of eyes around me, like cat’s eyes shining in the dark.

Never

Ever

Give

Up!

I hover my hand over my king.

Check again.

Queen on d4. Bishop h6. Rook f6.

It’s really over.

I move my queen to d6.

‘Check . . . Checkmate.’

I stare at the board in silence. Check every piece on every square. Check where my opponent could move his king or any other chess piece that could uncheck it.

But the king is trapped, and none of his army can save him. There’s no way out.

My opponent lays his king on the board.

I stare at the board in silence.

One person claps.

Then another.

And another . . . until applause builds and echoes around the hall.

My opponent holds out his hand.

I stand up to shake it and look at him for the first time. He says something, but the applause drowns his words. I take a deep breath, then I feel a smile creep across my face. I feel like laughing. I feel like crying too. I feel—