How to Become Popular & Rich

How to Become Popular & Rich
Jeff,, 97 pounds of bone.
A high school sophomore,
A little guy with few friends.
Was there a cure?

3 players 6 hit,
That was the answer!
No, it did not change his weight,
But changed his status.

The piece of history,
Or love of the game,
That drove him to a most excellent idea
Is lost in time.

Monday morning home room,
Once quiet, especially at his desk,
Changed its polarity and popularity.
10 guys crowded his space.

“Betcha”, 3rd behind “fuck” & “shit”
As a high school pronouncement,
Particularly in matters of disagreement,
Resolved most issues.

Perhaps it was the word,
Or whimsically checking the odds,
Our hero took a few friendly bets.
3 players, 6 hits.

At 9 to 1 it looked pretty good to the bettors,
(8 to1 if the batters were on the same team)
Odds on winning? 20 to 1,
Four more guys wanted to play.

“The hulk” the nickname given our 97 pounder,
Got a slip of paper & the money.
You bet today, you win or lose today.
All losers day one.

At weeks end 12 bettors,
A week later 20 regulars.
Hiding the slips from Mom was getting tricky .
“Jeff, where did you get all that change”?





Betting was very cool,
25 cents, a buck, nothing big.
“Nobody gets hurt”
“Betcha” was in vogue.

Too many would be bettors,
Crowded Jeff’s, desk every morning.
Time to expand.
Jeff put other feet on the floor.

Hiring runners, 10% of the bet,
Spread the joy to happy suckers all over the school.
At 100 betters a day and growing,
He reached out for insurance.

How could he handle days
When the majors went nuts,
20-25 guys with two hits or more?
He didn’t have the loot to cover.

Jeff, now with 6 runners and
Two rich kids providing insurance,
For a small cut,
Had a thriving business

Month three started great.
Got a 4 eye to keep the books
Business up 80%, all bases covered.
Well. almost all.

One of his runners was caught
And suspended for a week.
Jeff’s fate would be a one week hanging,
Followed by an audit. Closing time.