Billiards

The Pool Shark and the Miss

by

Bill Ferullo

© 2011

A shark walked in, one night, to make

An easy mark ... someone to take!

He saw a young miss to his right

And asked her for a game that night!

The miss nodded yes and watched, as there

He set things up to win his dare.

She took his challenge, with his devil-may-care,

And, before his eyes

She won, to both ... a big surprise!!

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The Rolling 8 Ball

by

B.D. Adams

© 2011

     It was almost the end of another brutal winter in Columbus, Ohio ... March of 1971. Snow was still prevalent against the buildings, but not as much as the week before. Boots were still the footwear. You could smell the coming Spring ... but, why should it take so long to happen?!
     It was late Friday evening. Toni had taken the city bus to the downtown to meet her boyfriend, Adam. They worked together in a large stereo/electronics store and usually rode to and from work daily. Adam was a Junior Manager and was attending yet another Friday evening manager’s meeting! The pair planned to meet around eight-ish, for drinks and dinner. Since she was twenty-one, she was legal for drink. It was now close to 7 o’clock. If she would have taken the bus after the one she took, she would have been too cramped for time. And now, they could play some pool before dinner ... if Adam finished his manager’s meeting early enough.
     Toni had left the store earlier to do her own “bookwork.” She had asked her mom to borrow some money for books she needed for a new college class, so she hoped there was a check in her mail. The check was there, she high-tailed it to the bank to cash it and was so surprised about how much extra money there was after she did her shopping at the book store! Her mom always gave more than needed.
     Because of the extra cash, Toni wanted to take Adam out to dinner after his meeting. That meant they’d go to The Clock Restaurant, around the corner from the store. This was a venerable establishment, which included the Pool Hall above the restaurant, with all kinds of history. The food was tasty and the prices weren’t bad for a night out. Adam and Toni hadn’t become “regulars,” but they weren’t far from that description. They had become friendly with a few of the regulars and always enjoyed their conversations.
     Anyway, Toni got off the bus at Spring Street ... right in front of the Clock Restaurant. As she exited the bus, she was hit in the face with a biting, cold breeze! All she did was to hold her coat better closed at her neck, and then cringed and shivered!
     “I shoulda stayed at home ... order a pizza,” Toni mumbled.
     She was about to enter the Restaurant ... enter to that warmth ... when she decided to go to the door for the stairs that went up to The Clock Billiards. She could wait there for Adam in relative quiet with jazz music playing from the tape player the pool hall’s manager bought from Adam. She decided it would be so nice to have a quiet drink of Drambuie, while she watched some good pool players.
     She didn’t run up the stairs, but once she was at the Billiards door, she entered quickly ... if for no other reason, because it was wicked cold this evening!
     Toni walked briskly to the bar, and before she gave her order to Jack, the bartender, he placed a tumbler glass in front of her, which made her smile to him. Jack already knew that she’d want the Drambuie. He was so right!
     After she took a soothing sip, she shed her coat and placed it on the back of the chair-backed bar stool. Her sock-cap came off to be stuffed in a pocket of her coat. She slightly shook her auburn hair to make it lay on her shoulders. It was nice and warm in here.
     She really enjoyed this pool hall! It was the entire width and length of the building. Concrete pillars, a foot round, held the ceiling and the other two floors from crashing down! Old paneling was really the only decoration with the cue racks, spaced exactly on the walls. The light brown carpeting was stained, but thank goodness, it didn’t stink. The only constant smell was from the cigarettes and cigars, which always bothered her!
     The hall had been in existence since the 1800s and had been the venue for several tournaments over the years, of which a few she and Adam had attended. There were a few people at the bar this evening, who were just talking, or just drinking ... a few players were at the regulation tables and a couple of guys at the snooker table. She had had a very hard time to understand that table!
     When she and Adam began to date, he introduced her not only to Drambuie, but to the game of pool. This was definitely an acquired taste of a game, which became tasty to her. She had not gotten to the point of wanting to play strangers because ... let’s face it ... she was a novice. She had beaten Adam once ... he accidentally sank the eight ball. However, a win was a win ... as he kept saying to calm his self-anger. Sometime, she knew she would win legitimately!
     Toni had become comfortable with her drink, so she just sat on the bar stool to watch all the players. One fellow was just “shooting around” ... playing by himself. He spoke with other players, but he remained alone. She had seen him before at the hall and was pretty sure he was a pro ... a shark. There always seemed to be a hundred dollar bill on the edge of the table ... that meant high stakes. She stopped watching him because he kept looking at her. He made her nervous ... he was too good for her and she knew it.
     Toni continued to nurse the drink Jack had given her. The table she turned her attention to had become intriguing. The older men, who were playing, were doing what she could only call trick shots. Great shots!
    “They’re good,” the one man pointed out. He had come to the bar for a fresh drink. He stood a bit behind her ... at another bar stool.
     “Excuse me?” Toni asked, startled a bit.
     “You’re watchin’ a couple of pros ... they like to show off,” the man stated. He grinned to her with his steely blue eyes. The man was about as tall as Adam, but more lanky. “Sid ... my name’s Sid.” He offered to shake her hand with a weathered, bony hand.
     “Toni,” she offered in turn. She gave her hand to shake his bony fingers. She smiled calmly, but returned her attention to the players she had been watching.
     She didn’t want to talk to Sid. To her, he appeared to be a mobster ... dressed in all black ... black trousers, turtle-neck sweater and black, pointed-toe cowboy boots. Definitely not her type. She took a larger sip of her drink, which finished it.
     The small crowd, who had been enjoying the trick shots, voiced their approval of one shot that Toni saw and approved, as well!
     “Do you play?” Sid quietly inquired. He combed his fingers through his grayed, styled hair, after he lighted a cigarette, while he awaited his drink.
     Toni turned slightly to deliver her answer, which was, “A little.” She was still amazed with the two men, as they continued their pool “lesson.”
     After a moment, Toni realized that Jack had placed a fresh glass of Drambuie at her elbow. She gave him a quizzical look.
     He just tilted his head to Sid, and then went to another patron.
     Toni didn’t want to turn down the fresh drink, so she smiled to Sid and said, “This might
sound like a line ... I am waiting for someone. But, thanks for the drink.” She raised her glass to
him before she took a sip.
     “Just buyin’ a pretty gal a drink,” Sid said with a grin. He raised his glass in turn to her. He took a gulp of his Scotch and soda and watched the table with the others.
     There was another remarkable shot and applause broke out through the crowd! The
entertainers had finished their “game,” and the on-lookers dispersed to other tables.
     Toni turned to face the bar and to better sip the drink Sid had gotten for her.
     Sid smoked his cigarette, and then acted like he was about to say something to her, but thought better of it.
     She saw his action and became curious.
     “Did you want to say something?” she queried.
     “Aww ... nothin’ really.” Sid sipped his drink, this time, took a drag of his smoke, and then asked, “Would you like to play? Just until your “someone” shows up.” Sid grinned to her.
     Toni had now a few belts and she felt ... daring. She surveyed this mobster’s face and decided ... what the hey. She ambled off the bar stool to go select a cue ... she knew how to roll the bar stick on a table to see if it was too warped or a good-enough-cue. She found one that would be just fine.
     Sid racked the balls for a game of 8 Ball and sat in one of the high chairs by the table. He casually motioned for Toni to break, which she did. A decent break, but it could have been better. She made a mental note to work more on the breaks.
     Two balls ... a solid and a stripe ... sank on the break. None of the other balls were in good positions for another shot, but she decided to try one of her newly learned bank shots on a solid colored ball (the #7 ball). This would be a bank shot on a side pocket ... and to her surprise ... she made it (now, she would only shoot at solid balls)! She knew she shouldn’t smile at this accomplished strike, but she couldn’t help it ... she smiled like a Cheshire Cat!
     Sid smiled at her through a veil of smoke. He knew he had a pigeon.
     Toni began to study the table for her next shot. Her next shot was a straight-in to a corner pocket, which she made with ease. She couldn’t wait to tell Adam about all this!
     Sid watched her with interest, as he began to chalk his stick. This was a proven mind-game with any player, but more intimidating with novices. This action meant he expected her to miss soon, or believed she would. He would win ... no matter what he had to do.
     Toni had managed to sink nearly all her solid balls on the table. She felt like she was on a roll ... no pun intended. However, as luck would have it, she missed the shot on the #5 ball (balls weren’t shot in any order ... both players would leave the 8 Ball for the last, winning ball). She smiled to Sid because she knew he’d now clean the table of his striped balls. She sat in her chair and took a good sip of what was left of her drink.
     He snuffed out his cigarette before he took hold of his custom cue stick. Before Sid stood, however, one young guy, who had been playing a different table, came to him and quietly asked something.
     They were turned away from her, so she couldn’t hear what they said.
     Sid lowered his head and shoulders, as if he was exasperated, with what this fellow asked. Sid took out his wallet and handed a few bills to the young guy. The guy returned to his table and Sid approached to our table.
     “Sorry ... business,” was all he said.
     Toni had learned some of what it was like for the pool hall pros. There was this thing called “Stake Horseing.” This meant older players, who were at the end of their run, would financially back a younger player for a decent percentage of all wins. This had to be what she just witnessed. And, the young fellow must have been loosing.
     Sid grinned to Toni, as he lighted another cigarette. He kept the new cigarette in his mouth, as he took his first shot, which sank without question. Then, he rested the cig in the ashtray on the side table between the chairs before he took his next shot. This was a tricky bank shot, but he had no problem.
     Toni watched this man’s style with great interest. She treated this as a lecture session in college ... she would learn from this experienced player!
     “I know you’re new, but let’s make this more interesting ... for me. Whadya say?” Sid asked, as he studied the table for his next shot.
     “Like how,” Toni queried back.
     He had retrieved his cigarette to finish it. Then, he looked at Toni and said, “Like money. You’re better than you think, or ... you’re a hustler.” He waited for her reaction. As already established, he would win no matter what he had to do.
     “I’m NOT a hustler. If you think I play well ... thank you,” Toni said with a sincere smile.
     “How about ... if I win, you play another game with me ... if you win, I give you ten bucks. Sound fair?” Sid prodded.
     Toni began to feel like she was experiencing a real hustle, for which she wasn’t prepared. However, she was intrigued with this idea. She nodded her head in agreement.
     Sid continued to play and he won this game.
     Toni racked the balls, since she had lost, but she wasn’t upset or angry that she lost ... she was invigorated! With more incentive to win, she felt a new reason to play better.
     The next three games, Toni won! Sid had become quieter and less friendly. He was now down $30.00 to Toni. He really did not intend to lose ... ever.
     A small audience had gathered to watch this match, which more than surprised Toni. She had been playing like a pro and even used a couple of shots Sid had used.
     The game they were in, Sid finally won! He almost felt like he had just run a marathon ... an old tired man. However, he had to maintain his self-esteem!
     He had ordered drinks for he and Toni, and then baited the trap, “Wow! You’re good. Let’s up the stakes ....”
     “Sid ...,” Toni interrupted, “Please ... I’ve been lucky ... that’s all.”
     “Lucky or not ... ya gotta give me a chance to win some more ... it’s a guy thing. I can’t loose like this to you,” he said, almost as a plea. He smiled, but was very serious. The drinks came and he began his drink while he awaited her response.
     Toni picked up on this challenge. He had been praising her, but now that she had “taken something from him” ... he acted like she owed him.
     “OK ... what?” she inquired.
     “How much you have on ya now?” he asked bluntly.
     She had the small amount left over from her mother, but she felt very uncomfortable to make a wager of that money ... or any money! This hesitation seemed to bother Sid.
     “What? You feel you’re luck has run out?” Sid giggled sardonically. A few of the on-lookers giggled with him because they knew that feeling.
     “What’s the challenge?” Toni asked specifically. She figured he would make it so one sided that no matter what she did, he would win!
     “Nah ... how much ya have?”
     With the drinks she had had and the way she had been playing, she felt ... cocky.
     “Three hundred .....” Toni lied. All she had was a little over a hundred. She had no idea what she’d do, if she lost!
     Sid had a twinkle in his blue eyes that more than showed his satisfaction. That money would soon be his!
     “If you don’t make this shot, you give me your three bills and the thirty. If you make it, I’ll match your three hundred and the thirty. Wha’cha say?” Sid tormented. He felt he could not loose ... this was a win, win for him!
     Toni kept her “game” face, so all she said was, “OK,” even though she felt nothing but doom! She felt so dumb! Why did she make such a stupid bet?! How was she going to pay Sid?! Adam was not going to be happy with her, either, but she kept her game face. She didn’t care what Sid thought of her now ... she just had to keep her image from waning in this moment of pressure.
     Sid smiled his shit-eating grin.
     “Now ... what’s the challenge?” Toni asked defiantly.
     “We’ve all witness your talent ... beginner or not. What can you do with the 8 Ball?”
     “Do with the 8 Ball? What does that mean?” Toni frowned slightly because this was a strange wording to her.
     Some of the audience knew exactly what Sid intended. There was a soft guffaw heard through out the audience. Toni felt even dumber!
     “That means, little girl ... sink the 8 Ball on the break. It should be easy ... for you,” Sid exchanged grins with some of the others standing around.
     His ploy to shake her confidence worked, but not like he had meant! Actually, she had done this feat ... but, only once, accidently. That’s when she asked Adam what it meant to sink the 8 Ball on the break. He told her that the world would be at her feet, if she developed a formula for that kind of break! As she practiced to hone this kind of break, the closest she ever came was when the 8 Ball would get hung-up on the pocket and not sink. Close ... always close, but no cigar. She felt ... defeated ... but, no matter ... she was about to attempt the best break of her life!! She mentally shook herself to “get with it ... don’t be a wimp!”
     “You ready?” Sid taunted. He got his wallet out of his back pocket and laid it on the side table. Then, he offered his custom cue to her.
     She just did her own guffaw to show her confidence with the bar cue for this challenge.
     Toni waited while Jack was allowed to make the rack for this $300 break. She was so glad that Sid hadn’t pushed to make the rack. An impartial racker .. that was Jack.
     She chalked her cue tip ... very thoroughly ... didn’t want it to slip on contact with the white cue ball. Geometry, physics, velocity and so many other variations raced through her mind. This all pertained to the game of pool ... besides just plain luck!!!
     She couldn’t hit down onto the cue ball because that would cause a back-spin ... cause that cue-ball to stop in its tracks ... it would stay where it hit the first ball. The cue-ball needed to start a reaction like a pin-ball machine. She decided to hit high on the cue-ball to make it do this... and then, pray.
     Toni approached the rack from her right ... she had seen Adam do this, so she thought this would be good. She placed her feet more apart for better balance ... she had been doing this lately with good results. Then, she rested the cue-stick on her bridge hand (right hand) and grabbed the back of the cue for power (left hand). She drew back her power hand to test the angle ... a few times ... then a couple more times. Then, she let’er rip!!!
     She didn’t know if she closed her eyes as she broke, but the sound was ... inspirational! She saw all the balls bouncing off each other, off the rails and a few just spun. The main ball of interest ... the 8 Ball ... spun, but it spun and rolled toward the one corner pocket ... near to Sid. It spun and rolled ... slowly rolled! It was like slow motion where a person might be yelling, “No!!”
     The 8 Ball definitely headed to that corner pocket. The tables in the Clock Billiards were resurfaced yearly, so this table was no different ... level, no warps! This 8 Ball rolled as straight as it got.
     With no hesitation, Sid stood by the table and extracted the 8 Ball! It never entered the pocket. Sid showed no anger ... he just picked up the 8 Ball. He had been bested by a young woman at the game by which he had lived. He had had enough. He handed his cue to the young guy, so he could place it in its case.
     Toni looked at Sid in disbelief! Why did he do this? The 8 Ball could have fallen or not!!
     Sid set the 8 Ball on the side table, and then picked up his wallet. He opened it to a wad of bills ... he counted the money, laid it on the pool table, stashed his wallet, donned his coat and scooted out of the pool hall with the young man right behind him. No words were spoken.
     Toni had won by default ... a three hundred-thirty dollar default!


There is no moral to this story, but those who play games for money, deserve what they get ... good or bad. Only play for fun ... don’t bet money y’ain’t got ... you’ll live longer.