"Do you know what happens to the chess pieces after the game?" he asked, not looking at me.
"They go back in the box?" I guessed.
He nodded and slid the pawn and the king into their slots side-by-side. "The king is powerful, but only on the board. So often, players sacrifice their pawns just to protect the king. But win or lose, they both go back in the same box."
I looked up at him, confused. "What are you trying to say?"
He looked up at me. "I'm saying that sooner or later, you'll realize which piece you are, and by then, it'll be too late to make a move; you'll be back in the box." He shut the box with a snap and fastened the clasp.