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| Renton High School, Renton, Washington |
The "rest," including mother, anxious teenager and younger brother, boarded a Greyhound bus for a 70+ hour trip across the U.S.
They were going from a small town to a big city and he was scared.
The high school he was from had over 400 students.
The high school he would transfer to had over 4,000.
The freshman class alone had over 1,000 "boomers."
The freshman class alone had over 1,000 "boomers."
To him, the stately brick facade and tower on the new school was intimidating.
Much to his surprise he blended in pretty quick.
No one picked him out for good, or bad intentions.
After a few weeks, he tied up with a few and called them friends.
All were from similar low income backgrounds.
They had very little money but avoided crime... for no particular reason.
Some of them picked up a few bucks from odd jobs in the area.
When they did have money, they usually headed for Skyway Park Bowl.
The alley had a half-dozen pool tables and that was what drew them.
The Ohio youth was fascinated by the game and became an avid student.
He studied the geometry of table angles,
the physics of "English" or ball spin.
He worked on the grip, the stroke, the tempo,
The proper roughing and chalking the cue stick.
He practiced the best methods to break the rack of 15 balls.
He learned position pool and the art of thinking several shots ahead.
He loved the smooth texture of the stick and the felt table covering.
He loved the click of cue ball against object ball.
He loved the sound of a ball falling into a woven leather pocket.
Together, he and his pals made that place their place.
They got to know the night manager so well,
He would let them play free after midnight.
It was an all night establishment and they would often do just that...play all night.
The manager must have known he was keeping them off the streets and out of trouble.
Eventually, he would often hop on the bus to downtown Seattle.
There he would play small stakes 8-ball games at a buck a pop.
The venues were historical (as in gone today) downtown Seattle spots.
They included the venerable Ben Paris underground and the Club 211 (est. 1896).
Both were sites of many high stakes games and championship matches.
In later years, he would occasionally come back to the game,
Playing a few racks with a handsome old 21 ounce Brunswick cue,
His wife of many years gave him before they were married.
A few shots and the memories would flood back.
(Fifty years later, he still has that stick in fine shape.)
(Fifty years later, he still has that stick in fine shape.)
Today he fondly mentions to anyone who seems to care...
That he majored in pool in High School.
You never forget something you love or have loved...
