Sticks - Tapa dura

Competing in the ten-to-thirteen-year-olds' nine-ball championship against the brawny Buck Pender, young Mickey Vernon hopes his father's friend, a pool ace, can help, and Mickey must entreat his mother to overcome her mistrust of the friend.

one thing in the world Mickey Vernon really wants, and it's hanging in the window of his family's pool hall. It's an awesome shirt that says Vernon's Pool Hall Youth Tournament Champion, Cruckston New Jersey, and the winner of the tento thirteen-year-olds' nine-ball tournament will have the honor of wearing it. For a ten-year-old, Mickey is one fantastic pool player. But to win the shirt, he's going to have to beat Buck Pender. Buck is three years older, is probably part gorilla, and has been pushing Mickey and his friends around since forever. Even with coaching from Arlen Pepper, math brain and loyal best friend, Mickey figures he's doomed.

But then a bearded stranger in a cowboy hat rolls into town in a Peterbilt truck -- the ultimate. Joseph Alvarez is an ace with a pool cue. Even more important, he knew Mickey's pool champion father, who died when Mickey was a baby. But he's also a man with a past -- and Mickey's mother doesn't want Joseph spending time with her son. Mickey has abso