| Some years ago I was on holiday in Belgium. | | | | would be black. And it was. |
| Desperate for reading material in English, I picked | | | | Round about turn eleven or twelve, I thought to |
| up a paperback called something like 'Weird | | | | myself: |
| People'. In it was a story about a guy who could | | | | 'It's going to be black.' Short pause. 'But maybe it |
| supposedly influence the roll of a roulette ball. | | | | won't be.' |
| I had nothing much to do; the place I was staying | | | | And the spell was broken. From then on the ball |
| just happened to have a roulette game; I | | | | behaved randomly. I could not recapture my |
| thought, 'Why not?' | | | | previous mental state. 'Willing' the ball to fall into a |
| So I hauled out the roulette box and set it all up. | | | | black slot had no effect. |
| Idly, I spun the wheel and dropped in the ball. And | | | | Now and again I experience a similar state. |
| I knew it would be black. | | | | (Knowing I will get a parking space is similar I |
| I found myself in a strange place mentally. The | | | | guess.) Not as often as I would like. And not |
| place I imagine sportspeople call 'the zone'. For the | | | | when I like. But it is available sometimes. |
| next ten or so spins of the wheel, I 'knew' it | | | | Or maybe it's all in the mind? |