"Damn it, this is pointless!"

Ronald Richardson fumed inwardly, his shots shaky, further marred by the poor angles of his initial attempts. After several strokes, the triangle formation remained unbroken.

"Damn it!" He cursed under his breath, shedding his carefree and rakish demeanor to focus on finding the right angle.

With a series of sharp and precise shots, "thud, thud, thud," Jean stood firm and unshaken.

Ronald was pleased. Straightening up, he began calculating: just three more shots and victory was his.

Murray Gibson, rusty from years without play, was no match for him, and Haley Bertie, barely able to hold a cue, was not worth considering.

This game was as good as won.

A confident smile spread across his face. With two more strokes, only two balls remained under the wooden plank. One final shot and the game would be over.

Bending over for his shot, Jean's foot shifted slightly, disrupting the balance. The board tilted, and she tumbled off the pool table.

Fortunately, Haley Bertie, standing by, caught Jea