Page 9 - OnTheSnapMagazineFlip

“Hey, Doc!!!” Fatty just looked at me and after a long silence, he said,
“Hey, Slim! Can you dance?”
We turned around and there was
a short round man making his Dance?!!! I looked at him like he was crazy! DANCE?!!!
way through the crowd.
He held out his hand, “C’mon, Slim. Let’s dance.” He kept
Tommy started grinning and said asking and I’d say no. It became obvious that he wasn’t
to me, “Oh, mannnnnnnn! Here going to take no for an answer. Reluctantly, I took his
comes Minnesota Fats! You’re hand, grabbed my cue with the other and let him lead me
going to LOVE this guy!” down the bleachers to the tournament floor.

Before Tommy could introduce me, Fats They were playing music on the
said, “So, who’s the tomato?” loudspeakers and Fatty danced me all
around the empty tournament room
I looked around - who was he talking between and around the pool tables. He
about? Tomato? was a very good dancer and I had to really
pay attention to keep up and not make a
Well, it turned out to be me! fool of myself.

As he slowly looked me up As we danced, he asked me how old I was
and down, he drawled, “Jersey - I told him. Married? No. First time in
Slimmmmmmmmmmmm.” Vegas? Yes. Did I like shows? Yes. Did I
like great restaurants? Yes.
Well, I was tongue-tied! Minnesota
Fats had just called me a TOMATO!!! I “Slim, all I can say is that I sure wish I
wasn’t sure whether I should be insulted was your age again! And single! Single in
or flattered. Embarrassed, I made an VEGAS!!!
excuse and fled.
As he talked, his voice got louder, “YOU
Finally, it was time for the players LOST YOUR MATCH?!!! IN A POOL
meeting and the draw. I saw a few TOURNAMENT!!!
women that I knew but didn’t know Mary Kenniston
most of them. I drew Sherri Sewell from By now, he was howling!
Oklahoma City. We’d play the next day.
“YOU LOST YOUR MATCH?!!!!!!!!
Match time came - it was the last round before the dinner BWAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
break. Sherri and I started to play and if she didn’t have an I’m speechless.
open shot, she’d ride the nine! If she had a shot, she’d just
run out or combo the nine! Boom, boom, boom...game, set “FUHGEDDABOUDIT!!! Is this the last match you’re
and match. I was out of the tournament. Well, to say I was gonna play?!!! Is this the last pool tournament you’re ever
stunned was an understatement! I couldn’t believe it! I had gonna play in?!!! There’ll be other pool tournaments!!!
built up my bankroll for months to get to Vegas and BAM! YOU’RE IN VEGAS!!! You’re a young, single, good
I was out of the tournament! I had hardly had a turn at the lookin’ tomato and YOU’RE IN VEGAS!!! Find yourself a
table and I was out of the tournament! guy and have some fun!!! Geez...YOU’RE IN VEGAS!!!”

On the verge of tears, I climbed up to the top of the empty Well, by this time, he had me laughing too. While we were
bleachers. Sitting with my Fellini case between my legs, dancing, the room had started to fill up for the evening
I rested my head on it and closed my eyes. A short while matches and now everyone was clapping and cheering us
later, I felt the vibration of someone climbing up the on. The crowd was chanting, “Yeah, Mare - YOU’RE IN
bleachers. It wasn’t until I realized that someone was VEGAS!!! YOU’RE IN VEGAS!!!”
nearby that I looked up. It was Minnesota Fats.
So..........I did as the Fat Man told me - I found a guy and
“Hey, Slim! Whatcha doin’ up here? Why so sad?,” he we tore up Vegas. Oh, and by the way, Sherri Sewell went
asked. I burst into tears and told him what had happened on to win the tournament!!
in my match, how I’d saved my winnings for months, how
Sherri got lucky, how I..............

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