“Alright, I’ll put twenty more on it,” Tate said, “whether you make it or not it goes to the class, but my side goes on no.”
“I don’t see an issue with that,” Mr. Grasse stated. “A friendly sponsor for one shot, I think I’ll add twenty myself for yes.”
“Anyone else?” Tate asked looking at the crowd. “Dad?”
“I’ll play and as much as I love you Mel, I’m gonna have to side with Tate, a hundred for no.”
“Boys, boys, boys,” she sighed as the crowd started putting in their own. The no’s being collected by Arthur while the yes’s by Mr. Grasse.
“Well, it certainly seems the no’s are in the lead,” Mr. Grasse admitted as they went through the stack of cash sponsoring the shot. “Anyone else?”
“I’ve got a thousand on yes,” Jordan said coming towards them as the crowd quieted. “I know a priceless gem when I see it.”
“Jordan,” she said sending him a soft smile.
“That’s a lot of pressure there Mel,” Tate teased. “Can you handle the pressure?”
“Can I? Oh Tate, it’s called I sure can,” she said kissing Jordan’s cheek as she walked back to the table. She leaned over and aimed, letting the stick slide between her fingers as she mentally calculated the probability of actually succeeding.
“Here goes nothing,” she whispered to herself as she let the stick glance the cue.
“Too bad there Mel,” Tate said but she shook her head.
“Uh uh just wait,” she stated as it sailed hitting the corner of the pocket before bouncing back into the eight ball sending it crashing into another which changed its path and let it fall into the side pocket.
“You did not,” Tate said lowering his head with a groan.
“You should know better than betting against me, Tate.” Mel laughed as the crowd admitted defeat. He nodded kissing her cheek as Arthur laughed.
“Well, what do you say we show these guys a real game?” Arthur offered. “Fifty-four balls?”
“Fifty-four,” she agreed.
They went back and forth running the table and switching breaks. They were tied at forty-five balls each when Arthur’s break went off and he missed setting up the board.
“Take it home,” he stated seeing the shots she had would be fairly simple to make.
“You didn’t do that on purpose now, did you?” she asked knowing he hadn’t.
“So I could let these guys see you beat me? This is my hometown too kiddo, getting beat by my protégé isn’t something that I want to happen here.”
She laughed kissing his cheek before setting out around the table and sinking each shot until she reached the eight ball.
“Something a little fancy you think Tate?” she asked as he saw the set-up.
“Eye closed around the back,” he stated.
“Easy peasy…” She laughed turning around to look at the crowd. She adjusted the stick and closed her eyes and then shot.
“That makes fifty-four,” Mr. Grasse stated as it sank. “Anything you’d like to say Melinda?”
“Nah, I think I’ve said everything I needed to today,” she grinned as Arthur hugged her and Tate bumped her hip.
“Well I haven’t,” Arthur stated. “As you all know the girl who just took me down is my son Tate’s best friend. She’s also the youngest and newest winner of the Atlantic City Champion Tournament beating out the ten-year running winner…me.”
The murmurs heard throughout the crowd made her laugh and she ducked out of Tate’s hold as all eyes turned towards her. “Thanks for blowing my cover Arthur.”
“Anytime Mel,” he replied. “And if you think she was impressive today you should come down to the annual trick shot competition in a few weeks and see what she can pull off.”
