北城台球馆的格局,是和别处不同的:都是正中一排长方形的大案子,案上预备着台球,可以随时去打。上学的人,中午傍晚放了学,每每花五角钱,打一局台球——这是几年前的事了,现在每局已涨到一元——摆的自是花式的九球,高兴地打着消遣,倘肯多出一元,便可以挑一根好杆,或者一个好案子,以尽兴了;如果出到十几元,那就能打一局斯诺克。但这里的顾客,多是些穿校服的学生,大抵没有这样阔绰。只有穿名牌的阔学生,才走进馆内的包间,要好杆要好案子,慢慢地打斯诺克。 The pattern of the North City Billiards Hall is different from that of other places: they are all in the middle of a row of rectangular big cases. Bills are prepared on the case and can be played at any time. The people who went to school took the classes in the early afternoon and spent five cents each time playing a game of billiards. It was a few years ago. Now every game has risen to one dollar - it’s a fancy nine-ball game. If you are willing to spend more than one dollar, you can pick a good shot, or a good case to enjoy yourself. If you go to more than ten yuan, you can play snooker. However, most of the customers here are students wearing school uniforms, which are probably not so spacious. Only the broad-minded students who wear brand names walk into the private rooms in the hall. It is necessary to take good measures and slowly hit the snooker.