Jessie M. Rogers walked into The Watering Hole on Sunday afternoon for the weekly pool tournament. Jessie had the reputation of being one of the best from the other side of town. His wife was four blocks away in the hospital going through cancer treatments. Jessie figured winning this pool tournament would help with his wife’s medical expenses.
Roger (Eight Ball) Collins stood at the head of the number one pool table. The Watering Hole recognized Eight Ball as the undisputed pool-playing champion.
It had been argued which of the two men was the best. The fact that the two had never played each other only added to the controversy. Well, not until that day.
The crowd said it was God who arranged for Jessie and Eight Ball to be in the same bar at the time of a pool tournament
Brad, the bartender, announced that they would not serve any drinks until the pool game ended. He didn’t want to miss the pool game.
Brad’s wife collected money for the bets on who would win.
Someone yelled to Brad, “We need a coin toss.”
Brad stopped serving drinks and approached the pool table with the seriousness of a Super Bowl ref.
Brad took his lucky silver dollar from his pocket and flipped it in the air. Since Jessie was the visitor, he got to call it in the air.
Jessie called, “Heads, because I’m going to win.”
The coin bounced on the pool table’s felt until it finally rested with George Washington’s head showing.
Eight Ball racked the balls as tight as he could.
Jessie pulled his cue stick from the case and assembled it. Taking the chalk from his pocket, he twisted it three times on his stick’s tip. He then placed the cue ball just a little left of center.
“Call pocket, last ball eight ball.” Jessie said.
Eight Ball nodded in agreement.
Crack! The cue ball struck the racked targets, sending them in every direction imaginable. The two, nine and six fell.
Jessie walked around the table. His eyes scanned over the table for what would be his next shot. Since two little ones fell, he called for the one ball in the side pocket. It fell with little effort.
The three, five, and seven surrendered in the next three shots. It looked like Jessie was going to run the table.
Now Jessie had to navigate the cue ball around eight ball to hit the four. Jessie called, “Cue ball off the rail to the four into the corner.” The four ball came off the rail but hit the eleven, resting beside the corner pocket.
Eight Ball approached the table. He knew he had to make all of his remaining six balls or Jessie would win. Eight Ball sunk the fourteen, fifteen, and eleven. All without banking.
Now, the cue ball rested against the end rail. Eight Ball didn’t have a clear shot for the ten, twelve or thirteen. He banked the ten and dropped it in the corner pocket.
Everyone in The Watering Hole, who had bet on Roger, was getting ready to collect their money.
Eight Ball called, “Four banks to put twelve in the far-right corner.” Only Efren Reyes, aka The Magician, was the only one who was known to make that kind of shot. Eight Ball made it, leaving the thirteen ball sitting near Jessie’s four.
The eight ball sat between the cue and thirteen ball.
Eight Ball pressed his lips together and called. “Two banks and the thirteen in the side.” The thirteen hit the outer edge of the side pocket and stopped.
Now Jessie was left with the four and the eight ball to win the game. He confidently called, “The four ball, two rails and the side pocket.” The same side pocket that Roger’s thirteen ball sat next to.
Jessie’s four ball hit Eight Ball’s thirteen, knocking it down toward the corner pocket. Leaving his four-ball resting between the cue ball and Roger’s thirteen.
Eight Ball took a deep breath and chalked up his stick. He walked over, put white chalk on the web of his left hand. He called. “Two rails and corner pocket.”
By this time, everyone in the bar had their eyes frozen on the table. Eight Ball had been known to make such a shot before. All the locals wondered if he could make it under the pressure of beating Jessie.
The cue ball went to the side rail, bounced off to the end rail and headed straight for the thirteen. The thirteen slowly rolled into the corner pocket.
Now the number eight remained six inches from the same corner pocket. Eight Ball dared not miss this shot or Jessie would win.
Eight Ball called out loud enough for everyone to hear, “Eight ball in that corner pocket; one rail.” He pointed at the pocket where the thirteen fell.
Roger downs the last of his vodka and orange juice. He chalked his cue stick. All the while taking his time. Finally, he took his position, aligned the cue stick with the cue ball. In his mind’s eye, he aligned the cue ball perfectly with the eight ball.
He forcefully struck the cue ball into the eight. The eight bounced off the side rail, heading straight for the corner pocket.
Everyone held their breaths and it slowed. Not one sound could be heard in the entire bar.
The eight ball rolled toward the corner pocket like it belonged there. It dropped in, and the crowd cheered.
Jessie and Eight Ball gripped each other’s hands. “Good game.” Jessie said.
When Jessie pulled back his hand he found a hundred-dollar bill.
“That is to help with your wife’s medical expenses.” Eight Ball said.
