Strong Enough (3 page)

Digressing from my insistent need to size
this dude up, I walked toward the 3 foot round bar table that was
directly next to him and placed my diet coke down. My pool stick
case was slung low across my back, in the same fashion it always
is.

“You always wear such a prized possession so
close to your ass,” he whispered to me as I realized how close he
was. Chill bumps formed on my arms from the breath I felt on my
neck. My head turned to my right as I peered over my shoulder at
his face so close to me. “If you intend on playing this game with
that hand I strongly suggest you remove it from my ass. Don’t think
because Adam isn’t standing right next to me, means that I don’t
have the ability to take care of myself.”

“Listen to me very closely babe,” he said
with a deep wicked voice that startled me inside, “you keep up this
teasing and bitch routine and you will regret the results. I am not
someone you want to play these games with.”

“The only game we are playing is 9ball
jackass,” I said as I roughly grabbed his hand which he still had
cupped around my ass cheek and pushed it away. “Touch me again like
that and I will not hesitate to discuss what I will do with your
hand.”

I stepped out of his reach and walked over
to the table to rack. Inside, I was a little shaken, there is
something about him that freaks me the hell out. His voice, his
actions, they have a sinister way about them.

Looking down at the triangle in my hands I
realize I am shaking. Quickly placing it on the green, I lined up
the balls in the triangle and rolled it out to the foot spot on the
table.
Well I guess he’s breaking the
rack,
I thought as I let out a little huff. “Your
break,” I stated as I walked to the opposite side of the table to
the three foot round top table that was on the far side from where
he was standing.
Think I’ll get a different
diet coke now
, I thought as I saw he was standing next
to it while I was not watching. Something tells me not to trust
this kid. Waving at the waitress in the area she nodded her head at
me to let me know she saw me.

“What’s up hun, what can I get yah?” She
said with a slight twang and a bit of sass. I can’t remember her
name but she is one of the only ones that doesn’t give me shit.

“Can I bother you for another diet coke.
Mine was left unattended and um, not sure I want to risk the
drink.” Glancing over at the other three foot round top where wanna
be stud had been standing.

“Of course hun, yeah, keep an eye on your
drink, this one gives me the willies.” She shivered as she shook
her head his direction.

As she walked away, I saw him look up from
the table right before the crack of the cue ball against the yellow
1 distributing the balls across the table. With a smile, he saw
that he dropped the 6 in the corner pocket allowing his shot to
continue. The one ball was open and easily shot into the side
pocket. Maneuvering about the table he sized up his shot for the 2
which was currently being blocked by the 8 and 4. The only option
was to call for a push out. I could see that clearly. Leaning over
the table, he angled his stick upwards and with slight right
English on the ball to cause it to curve but it didn’t reach the
2.

“Aww, should have pushed out man,” I
snickered knowing he knew I was right.

“How bout you not put your bitchy two cents
in on my shots.” He snarled. “Hmm testy are we.” I smiled.

I grabbed my 21 weight ebony pool cue from
the wall it was resting on. Running my right hand cupped around the
forearm and wrap. This cue means more to me than anyone could
understand. I remember the day my dad gave it to me. It was my 12th
birthday, and as all good dads should, he brought me up here to
play a game, ‘show me a thing or two’ is how he put it. Remembering
what he said made my lips curl into a soft smile.

Hopping up on the bar stool next
to my dad situated at the front of the table that we always played
at he turned to me.
“
Reece hun,
you’re 12 now. That’s pretty grown up if you ask me. I remember
when you were born and I looked at you and knew you would be my
little mini me. You have such a spunk about you it puts a smile on
my heart when I listen to you. When I was deciding what to get you
for your birthday, I knew it had to be perfect. It had to have your
beauty and spunk. It had to show strength and finesse. Thinking
about all I wanted your present to tell someone about you I had
this made for you.” My dad pulled out the most beautiful pool cue I
had ever seen. I had always just played with the bar cue’s. But
this, this was custom made for me. Separated at the joint, my dad
placed the forearm and wrap in my hand. It was the prettiest ebony
with a high gloss. Inlaid on the forearm were three solid ivory
butterflies followed by two light purple hearts that floated above
my name “REECE” in pretty cursive lettering. The wrap of the cue
was in different shades of blues, whites, silvers and black and
formed what looked like flames, but soft, beautiful flames. “Daddy,
it’s so pretty,” I said as I ran my hand along the cue. “Everything
on there Reece has a meaning. The three white butterflies stand for
your purity, beauty and finesse. Have you ever seen an ugly
butterfly that wasn’t graceful in its flight? Of course not,
because that’s not what they are. They have beauty, purity and
finesse. All things that remind me of you. The two hearts represent
your mother and I and the love we have and will always have for
you. And finally, you know that spunk I was talking about, well
that’s the flames on the wrap. They aren’t fire flames they are
flames of spunk, determination, drive and strength.”

“
I love it daddy, but it’s
heavy. I don’t think I can shoot with it,” I said as I tried to
balance it on my hand. “Reece, you can do anything you want to. We
will teach you how to shoot with it. It’s just a matter of
determination to learn. If you’re anything like your dad, then you
will need the weight for your power shot you will develop,” he said
as he ruffled the top of my head.

Shaking myself out of my brief daydream, I glanced
down at the cue and rubbed my thumb over the two hearts. I lost my
dad a week after my 12th birthday and well, my mom, I pretty much
lost her then too. Glancing up I realize that wanna be stud was
intently watching my every move. His look was one of interest with
a bit of irritation. I gave a slight half cocked smile and walked
toward the table. The shot he attempted left me with a clear shot
of the 2 ball. Unable to sink the 2, I used it to push the 7 down
the rail of the table to the pocket. After that it was over. One by
one I hit each consecutive numbered ball into a pocket leaving me
with only the 9. By nature, I always call pockets, it’s how I was
taught and how I have always played. Thing about 9-ball is you
don’t have to. Shit shots count. In true Reece fashion I called
left corner pocket for the 9. Pulling back on my stick I connect
with the cue with a bit of pop causing the ball to bank and head
for a different pocket. And that it did, landed in the left side
pocket.

Standing from my leaning position I see him
staring at me. “Good game,” I said as I extended my hand.

“Oh bullshit! You didn’t call side pocket
you called corner. You lose chick,” he said with such swagger and
confidence.

What the fuck is he
talking about
is all I could think. “Um, look dude,
perhaps you should learn the rules of the game you play before you
start spouting off about what is and isn’t a rule. Shit shots count
in 9-ball asshole. Not my rules, but they are the rules. I don’t
care if I called a pocket in northern Canada as long as it landed
in one I win.”

I could tell by this time he was more than
pissed. As he moved to stand just inches from my face I had to look
around to see if anyone else saw what was going on. To my shock, no
one was paying attention.
Don’t panic, don’t
panic he won’t do anything, he’s just pissed, talk him down, quit
cussing at him and get rid of the attitude
I repeated to
myself as I stood my ground. Backing up a bit to put a little bit
of space between us I steadied myself against the table.

“Look, I know your upset, its natural. But
seriously, rules are rules, we can call Danny over here and allow
him to decide what he thinks is fair,” I said with as neutral a
face as possible.

Moving closer to me again he leaned in
almost nose to nose.

“I don’t give a fuck what Danny says, you
called all your shots, set the precedence for the game. You can’t
just decide that when your shit hits the pocket it’s gonna stick
because you want to preserve your precious name.”

“Look, I’m really trying not to get upset
over all this, but you’re making it difficult. Would you back the
fuck off me so we can have a grown up conversation?” I said with
disdain in my voice.

I could hear commotion in the background and
took the opportunity to look behind me. Sure enough, there stood
Danny and the two on staff bouncers, none of them looking very
happy. “Care to take a step back from the young lady boy?” Danny
said as he crossed in front of me to basically push wanna be stud
off me.

“Outside, now, is more like where you need
to be and don’t have me ask again,” said one of the bouncers.
Stepping clearly out of the way of what was going on I looked
around for Jodi.
Where is this chick when I
need her anyway
?

“What the hell Reece?” I heard as she
bounced up next to me.

“There you are! What the hell Jodi?”

“Sorry girl, kinda got preoccupied with that
hottie over there,” she said as she pointed to some tall dark and
um handsome guy, standing off to the side.
Of
course this is what she was doing…. Or I should say who she was
doing.

“Hey is that the guy from earlier that Adam
had against the wall?” She whispered as we watched the two bouncers
and Danny escort wanna be stud and his band of idiot frat brothers
out of the bar.

“Yeah, I was lucky enough to draw him in the
first round of the tournament and let’s just say things didn’t
start off well and quickly grew into uncomfortable after I kicked
his ass,” I said with a soft chuckle.

“Ha, of course you did, but I’m confused how
it ended up with him being booted out. What did you say to
him?”

“I didn’t say anythi….” I started to say as
I stopped when I heard it. It was the same voice that stopped me
dead in my tracks earlier. Trying hard not to make my desperate
search obvious, I slowly did a 180 turn and scanned closely as I
listened for his voice.
Nope not him, no way is
it him, hhhhmmm maybe him oh wait nope not him lips don’t
match…

“Reece what are you looking for?” Jodi asked
as she scanned the bar with me not sure what she what she was
searching for.

“That voice, I need to see who it is. There
is something about it that, I dunno, calms me… I just wanna see who
it is that is talking that’s all.”

Scanning from tables to chairs to barstools
and everywhere in-between, but no luck, still can’t match up who it
is.

“Attention (crackle) tournament
play(crackle)ers, if you won your (screech) match please be sure to
report the win so the second round can begin.”(crackle and screech)
Could be heard over the busted PA system Danny was too cheap to fix
or replace. The screeching and crackling sound can be deafening at
times.

“Well I guess that’s me.” I shrugged as I
turned to walk towards the registration table. Pausing I turned.
“Try not to get into trouble with tall, dark and um…well just don’t
disappear again okay?” I gave Jodi my infamous
you know what I mean
look that had her
giggling.

I made my way through the bar toward the
registration table again. Really hoping I don’t have to deal with
Manda again, not in the mood. Lucky for me Danny was standing at
the table.

“You okay kiddo?” He said as he rested his
hand on my shoulder. I both hated and loved when he did that. I
know he thinks of me as his own daughter and protects me that way,
but I hate that it reminds me of my dad, of him not being here and
all that has crashed and burned since then. I looked up and gave a
simple smile to the man that has watched out for me for the last
five years without hesitation. “Of course I am, I’m a Miller, I
don’t let jerks like that affect me,” I said with a wink. “Now if
you excuse me I have a tournament to dominate.”

Making my way back to my table for round
two, I could hear an all too familiar tune start to play in the
background. One thing I loved about this old pool hall was the fact
that Danny kept it simple. The Jukebox was not ancient but it sure
wasn’t as high tech as those I have seen in other places. The
simple box played some of the best rock and country that I grew up
on. As the music played I found myself swaying to the tune and
singing along as Tim McGraw’s My Best Friend floated around me
taking me to an all too familiar place. I taught myself how to play
guitar when I was 14. My mom had always been very musically
inclined and well, I guess some things just run in the family. I
remember singing when I was just a young girl too. Dad used to
parade me around, looking for opportunities to have me sing in
public. Never did phase me, I would just open my mouth and let my
voice run. Didn’t matter the place or the audience, singing soothed
me, made me feel accepted. Learning to play the guitar was
something I used to keep myself busy when I wasn’t in the pool hall
and like most things I did after he passed. It reminded me of my
dad. Sitting on my bedroom floor with my mom’s old acoustic Fender,
I learned the chords, then learned how to listen for them and how
to strum and pic and the next thing you know, I was playing.