“Nine ball in the corner pocket,” my new friend Henry said.
“Click!”
“I don’t believe it,” I said. “I just got beaten by a man using the handle of a broom to shoot pool.”
Henry grinned as I peeled off a five dollar bill to pay my bet. I was killing time in Belmopan until it was time to catch the bus when Henry challenged me to a game of pool.
“This is a stupid question,” I said, “but why did you use a broom handle instead of a pool cue?”
“It’s because I’m like some kind of genius athlete,” Henry said. “Once I learn something it gets boring and I have to make it challenging.”
“Do you play other sports?”
“Sure. I played on our local softball team but I batted and threw left handed just to make it interesting.”
“How well did you play?”
“I led the league in batting and fielding.”
“You must really be a genius athlete.”
“I play basketball and football, too,” he said. “To make football challenging I kick with my left foot instead of my natural right. I scored eight goals this year.”
“What about basketball? What do you do to challenge yourself?”
“I keep my left hand in my pocket and play one handed. I averaged twenty-three points a game last year.”
“I sure would like for my son to meet you,” I said. “Do you have children?”
“Yes, I have three kids,” he said. “And before you ask I’ll go ahead and tell you; standing up in a hammock.”
