She's back ~ L. Hamilton

71. | Darts

The crowd had grown considerably as everyone gathered around in a circle around the board. I was sitting at the bar at the front of the crowd. They all let out a loud cheer as Darren landed a good shot on the board

"One hundred and eighty!" Marge yelled as a man wrote down the score on the chalk board

The scores were really close. Only a couple of shots in it.

"Shall I be asking you to leave now?" Darren said to Lewis. But Lewis looked unfazed as he just smiled at Darren in response "as many of you know the women I helped bring to victory is here with us" he said to the crowd "you know I always knew my ex trainee was crazy, but ruining her entire legacy is a level I never would have thought that even Delaney would have stooped down to"

"Hey" Lewis said, interrupting Darren "a little respect when I'm holding the dart"

He looked over at the chalk board where their scores were written up, I saw him falter for a minute before turning to Marge

"Marge, what do I need to win?" He asked her

"Two triple 20s and a bullseye" she said hesitantly. Now I don't know much about darts, but that seams nearly impossible.

Fuck.

Darren let out a laugh "Goodluck"

Lewis glanced over at Darren. Then he shook his head and faced the dart board

"You know Darren. Guys have underestimated me my entire life. And for years I never understood why, it always really bothered me, I'd spend hours in school wondering why everyone would underestimate me. What was it that I conveyed to them, that made them think that" Lewis spoke "but then one day I was driving my niece to school, and there was this quote by Walt Whitman painted on the wall outside the school. It read, be curious, not judgmental. And I liked that quote"

"You know Darren, I've noticed something over the years. Folks tend to make up their minds about a person real quick. First glance, first conversation, sometimes even just the sound of a name. They decide who you are before they've even finished shaking your hand. Now I used to think that was just how people worked. Quick judgements, neat little boxes. Makes the world feel easier to sort out, I guess."

He raised the dart and let it fly at the board.

By the reaction of the crowd, it was a good shot.

"What was that?" I asked the man standing beside me

"It was a triple 20" he responded

Holy fuck.

He might actually win this shit.

"But here's the funny thing about that. When you decide you already know someone, you stop asking questions. And the moment you stop asking questions, you stop learning anything new. See, curiosity's a funny little trait. It's quiet. Doesn't make much noise in a room. But it'll take you a whole lot further than confidence ever will. Because when you're curious, you listen. You pay attention. You notice things other folks miss while they're busy being certain. Because you see if they were curious, they would have asked questions. Questions like. Have you played a lot of darts?"

He lifted the dart and threw it at the board.

It landed right beside the last one.

Holy fuck.

Another triple 20.

All he needed now was a bullseye.

"Which I would have answered. Yes. Every Sunday afternoon at the local pub with my uncle, from age ten to age 17 when he passed away. And if there's one thing life has taught me, it's this: the moment you think you've got somebody all figured out... that's usually the moment they surprise you. So I try not to judge too quick. I'd rather stay curious. Turns out the world's a whole lot more interesting that way"