Other activities
Outside of Stock Club, Nirav played saxophone in the wind ensemble and belonged to International Club, Interact and Social Studies Forum. Anish was in Chemistry/Physics League, Model United Nations, Peer Mediation Club and Future Business Leaders. And naturally they had SAT-prep courses. Nirav and Anish were in Advanced Placement classes and maintained impressive averages, but they felt they were less devoutly competitive than many classmates, who worried about every fraction of their grade averages, calculated to three decimal places.
They finished a game of eight ball and began another. They were having fun, but they had a larger ambition. They were trolling for prospects, suckers to relieve of some money. Nirav was something of a pool shark. "I haven't paid for a game in a year and a half," he said. "One night I made US$110. Me and my friends will go to the pool hall, make our money and then go out."
At a pool hall in New York, Nirav once played for US$20 a ball and won US$200. Right now, he was rusty. He had been studying for SATs. He sized up players at adjacent tables. If he sensed himself being appraised, Nirav would deliberately muff an occasional shot. Nearby players drifted into familiar pool hall patter. At the next table, a guy said, "Check out that chick at the table against the wall. Wow."
Nirav sank the six ball and said, "It's a good time to look at beaten-up blue chips."
"Yeah, AT&T," Karan said.
Anish said, "I don't think telecommunication stocks are going to do too well."
With the election settled and the Federal Reserve cutting rates, the market averages were climbing. The NASDAQ was at 2,641 and the Dow at 10,609. The mood at Stock Club was upbeat. The club portfolio was up US$0.62 for the year. That was progress. Nirav said his father wanted him to check out Campbell Soup; he was in a buying mood.
Out of the corner of his eye, Nirav noticed some kids at a nearby table. One he knew he could whip. The others were unfamiliar. He approached them. They agreed to play. Two of them versus Nirav and Karan.
"How much do you want to bet?" Nirav asked.
"Bet?" one of the kids said, puzzled. Nirav suggested US$5, but all they would consent to was US$1 a game. Nirav and Karan took the first game. Their opponents said that was enough.
"What wimps," Nirav said. They resumed playing with Anish. They kept their eyes open. "We need to earn more money," Nirav said.
Anish said, "Most definitely."
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