Short Story # 15

Dear Micks,

I have several new short stories for you. Hooray! This one is by Linda Povey. Linda works part-time as a primary school teacher and also taught English in secondary school for a number of years. Her first writing success came with the publication of verses for major greeting card manufacturers. She now writes short fiction for women's magazines. Her work has been published in 'Take a Break', Take a Break's Fiction Feast, Bella, That's Life and Yours.

THE BETTER PLAYER

by

LINDA POVEY

I was on the pool table, playing against a bloke I’d met in the bar, when the two of them came in. One blonde, the other dark, they were both pretty hot. I’d just missed a pocket by a fraction and the other guy was taking his time sizing up his chances. I went over to my beer and took a gulp. As I did so, I caught the blonde’s eye and smiled. She smiled back. Oh yes, I thought.

I looked back at the table. My opponent had missed his shot and left everything open. Time to clear up. With a sideward glance at Blondie, I walked back and took up my position. In no time at all, I was down to the black. I sensed the girl’s eyes on me as I tapped my intended pocket and took aim.

“Well done!” I heard as the ball rolled into it. I turned to see her stand up and applaud me.

I grinned at her.

She nodded to her friend and both of them came over. “Very well played,” she said.

“Yes,” the dark-haired one agreed, “you’re very good.”

I gave a modest shrug.

“I’m Katie,” the blonde said. “And this is Tina.”

“Pleased to meet you both,” I said.

“Do you mind if Tina and I have a game?” Katie asked.

I raised my eyebrows to the guy I’d been playing. He shook his head. I smiled at Katie. “No, not at all. Go ahead.”

“Thanks.”

Katie and Tina tossed a coin to see who was going to break. Katie won. I knocked my drink back and went to the bar to get a refill.

I’d always thought there was something sexy about women playing pool. I watched the two girls as I waited for my beer.

Katie’s break had failed to make much of an impression. The red and yellow balls lay clustered together still. Tina stood poised, cue in one hand, a frown on her face.

“Those two come here a lot, do they?” I asked the bartender

“No, never seen them before,” he said.

Tina nudged the white ball and it knocked into one of Katie’s.

“Foul!” Katie cried. “Two to me!”

“Pair of lookers, aren’t they?” I said.

The bartender put another pint down in front of me. He leaned towards me and lowered his voice. “Can’t play, though, can they?”

I winked. “Wouldn’t mind giving them a few lessons.”

They continued to play pretty badly. After several shots, neither had potted a single ball. Both sets persisted in clinging together, not one of them anywhere near a pocket.

I was half-way down my beer when Tina potted the white ball.

“Foul again!” cried Katie. “Another two for me.” With a couple of shots at a red ball that was now fairly close to a pocket, she was in with a chance. Sure enough, it slipped into the hole on the second aim.

I clapped and shouted, “Well done!”

She grinned at me. “I’m good at this aren’t I?” she said.

I laughed. “Sure are.”

“Like to play the winner when we’ve finished this game?” she asked.

One of them against me? It would be the quickest game of pool ever. “If you like,” I said.

I’d finished my third pint before it ended, and I’m not a fast drinker. Katie won, I was rather pleased to note. Every time she’d potted a ball, she’d turned towards me as if to register my approval. Definitely a come-on. I thought of the sight of her shapely rear as she bent over.

“I’ll get a drink,” Tina said. “Can I get you one, Jake?”

“Pint, please,” I told her.

She went off to the bar and I turned to Katie. “It’s between me and you then?” I said, picking up a cue.

Katie walked up to me and standing very close, stroked my waistcoat. “Nice,” she said.

I smiled. I knew I looked the part. I’ve always been a snappy dresser. I rolled up my sleeves to reveal the Rolex I’d bought on holiday last year.

“Like the watch too,” she told me

“Only the best for me. Ready then?”

“Ready and willing,” she replied.

“Do you want to break?” I asked.

Her lips curled into a seductive smile and she put her head on one side. “I think I’d like you to do it,” she said.

It was enough to give me palpitations. I forced myself to concentrate as I took up my position at the head of the table.

I hit the white ball and the reds and yellows flew in all directions. A yellow one fell into a pocket. As I studied the table, planning my next move, Katie came up to me and gently tapped my arm.

“Say, how about making it a bit more interesting?” she suggested.

I looked at her. “In what way?” I asked.

“We’ll have a little bet,” she said.

“Okay, say a fiver?” I thought perhaps I’d let her win. It wouldn’t be fair to take her money. I smiled to myself. And the likelihood of me getting off with her might be enhanced.

“Mm, something more interesting.” Katie grinned cheekily. “How about...if you win, you can come back to my place for a coffee later on.”.

I swallowed hard and re-thought the situation. I’d win, but not too easily. Make one or two silly mistakes, miss the odd ball. Yes, I could do it.

“What happens if she beats you?” Tina had returned from the bar and was standing behind me, carrying a tray holding two bottles of cider and a pint of beer.

“She comes back to my place?” I laughed and swung round to face her.

“I think you should let her have that watch.” Tina pointed to my Rolex.

Nothing to lose in agreeing, I thought. “It’s a deal,” I said.

The friend shouted to the bartender, who was listening with interest. “You heard that, didn’t you?”

“I did!” he called back.

Katie held out her hand. “May the better player win,” she said.

“The better player,” I repeated and we shook on it. I looked her up and down. She really was a cute little thing. I couldn’t wait to get her back home.

I potted two more yellows with ease, then missed a third, deliberately.

“My turn!” Katie cried. She leaned over the table, head low down. Funny, she hadn’t played like that before. She’d hit the ball from her hip, like a lot of woman do when they don’t know how to play properly. Still, I wasn’t complaining. I liked the way her right breast rubbed against the cue.

A red ball whizzed straight into a pocket.

“Good shot!” I called out in surprise.

When she managed to place a second, third and fourth, I wasn’t so happy. She missed the next by a fraction and I took up my position. I glanced in her direction. She was standing in a provocative pose, with a very smug look on her face.

It put me off and I missed.

“Bad luck,” she said. And went on to pot another two.

I got one more in, but I was so nervous at this stage I misjudged the angle of the next. I knew it was all over.

Before long, she’d pocketed the black with ease. She came over to me and shook my hand for a second time. “Good game,” she said.

I smiled wryly. “You played very well,” I told her.

At that point Tina called out, “So, don’t you owe her something?”

I stopped smiling. “What’s that?” I asked.

“Rolex.” I noticed Katie’s expression had become intense all of a sudden.

“Surely you weren’t being serious?” I said.

“Absolutely. Barman!” Katie shouted, “You remember the deal, don’t you?”

“Certainly do,” he said. “Hand the watch over, chum. A deal’s a deal. I don’t want any trouble here.”

I took the Rolex from my wrist and gave it to Katie. I narrowed my eyes. “You girls have done this before, haven’t you?”

Katie laughed. She didn’t seem nearly as attractive now. “They’re not all as easy as you,” she said.

The girls walked out the door, giggling together. I shrugged my shoulders in resignation. They’d taught me a lesson I wouldn’t forget in a hurry.

I just thanked my lucky stars that Rolex was a fake.