Sunday, November 8, 2009

Pool Table Opponents

Right arm stretched back, left hand propping the tip of the stick, back and head bent down a little with the knees, pull back 1,2,3 - release - the eight ball did not make it in the corner pocket.

The other player dods her head back and looks to the ceiling, "Ugh, we're never going to get this done," she says exasperatingly.

Blaine and Christina have been playing this game since the moment they put their lunch order in at The Point, which was ten minutes ago.

Their food is not out yet, so to kill the time, the remaining pool balls to put away match the University colors.

Christina aims to slice the purple ball into the side pocket; she pulls back her right arm, and misses again.

A friend walks by, looking at their pool table, looks at them with a smile and says, "still goin?"

Christina throws the friend a disgruntled look, and watches Blaine as he attempts again to put the black ball away.

Blaine plans to bank the black ball from the left side of the table, aims for it, and misses.

More kids come to the left counter to pick up their orders, turning in their red blinkers in exchange for some chicken wings and fries.

"I ordered some fish and chips, and they're not out yet," Christina says to her partner.

As Blaine stretches his right arm back again, a faint rumble coming from the ceiling speakers in the Sports Bar comes on.

A jingling of a hockey puck sounds in the downstairs play area, as people chat and watch the two players finish their game, and Blaine misses his shot again.

The blinker sitting at the edge of the pool table goes off, Blaine waves it at Christina, and she picks up their food to bring to the Sports Bar.

Christina smiles, certain that she can make the purple ball go in this time. She pulls back, hits the white ball into the purple ball, which lands in the corner pocket, but unfortunately follows a scratch.

Blaine's winning moment: about to knock the black ball in the right corner pocket, hits it, and accidentally lands in the opposite pocket.

The game is over. Christina wins, and both sit down at the bar to eat their lunch.

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