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 didn’t expect much drama when her father, Harry, moved in with her and her two boys last year. But when he started secretive online meetings, she knew something was off. What she uncovered was a surprise no one saw coming.
A single mom navigating life post-divorce, Evelyn invited Harry to live with them, hoping to ease his loneliness after her mother’s passing. Initially, it was wonderful—Harry brought warmth to their home. Then came the “chess club” meetings.
Harry locked his door for hours, bought noise-canceling headphones, and filled his room with psychology and economics textbooks—not exactly standard chess fare. Suspicious charges appeared on his credit card, and her son overheard him discussing “projects” and “money.” Convinced he was caught in a scam, Evelyn confronted him.
To her shock, Harry revealed he’d enrolled in online college to study Economics. Embarrassed to admit it earlier, he feared she’d think it was silly or worry about his finances.
Instead, Evelyn and her boys embraced his dream. Now, their family evenings include helping Harry with classwork, and they recently celebrated his first A with chocolate cake. It turns out, Harry wasn’t being scammed—he was pursuing a dream deferred, proving it’s never too late to start anew.
