No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

"Today, it's all about clearing the table in one go. Clear it and you win. Miss a single shot and you lose. You've got fifteen minutes," Brown announced, laying down the challenge like the lord of the manor he was.

I didn't really have a choice, so I accepted with gusto. "Alright!"

"Start whenever you're ready," he said, settling into the couch like a VIP spectator.

Standing at the edge of the pool table, I took a deep breath, nodded to the guy keeping time, and with his shout of "Go!" I started my game.

Thud, thud, thud...

I pocketed each ball with precision, and ten minutes in, two balls remained on the table.

So, I was pretty much winning.

Holding my breath, I geared up for the final push. With another precise hit, one ball left.

Clap, clap...

Brown started clapping, clearly trying to throw me off. I ignored him and lined up my next shot, but just then, I felt something cold and slimy brush against my foot, as if something had crawled over it.

I screamed instinctively, jumping up and inadvertently leaning onto the pool table, sending the cue stick flying.

The ball clattered...

count, you cheated,"

didn't understand what Yolande meant by cheating and could only look

down to the floor, and following his hand, I saw a yellow and green snake slithering

seemed that this creature had startled me. I've been terrified of such creatures since I was a

it around his arm, petting its head. "Naughty thing, why did you sneak out? Look

looked at me, "It's harmless, really gentle. Come, give it a

I'd touch

myself to step down, glaring at him instead. "Brown, if you can play fair, then play. But don't be

handle losing?" he

wouldn't have lost if

IMS

player should be able to ignore any distractions," Brown had the audacity to measure

clear then that he never intended to let Ernest off the hook, even if I

now, finally spoke up, "Stop with these childish tricks. Just tell

stood, still petting

walked over

just hurt me