My 65-Year-Old Dad Pretended to Become a Member of a ‘Chess Club’ – What My Son Heard in Their Online Meeting Left Me Stunned
Evelyn hadn’t expected much drama when her father Harry moved in with her and her two boys last year. But when he started having secretive online meetings behind closed doors, she knew something was not right. What she learned next was something no one saw coming.
You know those moments when you think you’ve got life figured out, and then something happens that leaves you feeling shocked? It makes you reflect on past events and wonder how you missed the obvious clues.
That’s exactly what happened to me last week.
But before I tell you about my dad’s mysterious “chess club” and what my son overheard, let me give you some context.
I’m a single mom to two wonderful, albeit occasionally mischievous, boys. After my marriage ended three years ago, the judge granted me full custody.
It wasn’t as simple as it sounds. Our separation was quite messy, and it took me a lot of months to get over what had happened.
I won’t go into the details today, but let’s just say I was shocked. I had heard the word “divorce” so many times, but I never thought it’d happen to me.
You know, when you marry your high school sweetheart, you never expect your fairytale love story to come to a tragic end.
Anyway, the custody battle was a complicated process that spanned several months and left lots of scars, but we’ve thankfully healed and moved forward. These days, our little family of three has found its rhythm.
Well, make that four, since Dad moved in last year—and that’s where this story begins.
About a year ago, sitting in my kitchen with coffee in hand, I realized how lonely the house felt with the boys at school. If I felt that way, Dad must feel worse since Mom passed. Without hesitation, I called him.
“Dad, why don’t you move in with us?” I asked. He hesitated, not wanting to be a burden, but after some back-and-forth, he agreed.
The day he arrived, he brought memories—his checkered blanket, Mom’s photo, and a box of keepsakes. The boys were thrilled, helping him settle in and making our house livelier. Sundays became special with his favorite meatloaf and his advice about raising the kids.
Then, three months ago, things got odd. He joined an “online chess club,” attending secretive meetings with noise-canceling headphones. I found economics and calculus textbooks in his room and noticed unusual credit card charges. When I asked, he gave vague answers.
It all came to a head last week. My son overheard him talking about money and “projects,” and I feared the worst—an online scam. Determined to uncover the truth, I confronted him.
Turns out, Dad wasn’t in trouble—he’d enrolled in college! He’d been secretly taking online classes in Economics, worried we’d think he was too old or that it would affect his savings for the boys.
Now, evenings are spent with the boys helping their grandpa study, and last week we celebrated his A on an economics paper. Dad’s journey has taught us all: it’s never too late to follow a dream.
