FASTEST FINGERS FIRST

The two men were now at each other's throats, holding each other by the collar. They didn't say a word. They just looked deep into each other's eyes with seething rage and puffing chests. But then, they both knew that this wasn't how true cowboys settled scores.

"Duel?", Slater asked, without batting his eyelids.

"It's called Quick Draw, smartass!", Dizzy spat on the ground, "Let's go outside then!"

Just two tables away, an old man downed his glass of cheap tequila, and wiped his lips dry. He rubbed his hands in anticipation and smiled.

The two stepped outside the bar and were surprised to find a huge crowd already waiting to witness the gunfight. The old man stepped out right behind them, which was also surprising, considering he had a limp in one leg and usually required help.

"Count to five?", Dizzy barked.

"No! Six!", Slater retorted, scratching his underarms.

An eerie silence gripped the crowd. Counting till six was not the norm. Even the Teacher's jaw dropped.

"Don't tell me you never managed to learn beyond five.", Slater continued.

Dizzy sniggered, "Let the teacher count then!"

The old man was quick to respond, "Not happening Son...I've taught you both equally well. Consider this as your final test."

The two men nodded. They stood with their backs against each other. Being right handed, both of them had their Big-Tex revolver holsters strapped on their right sides.

"Start walking boys", shouted a waitress, desperate to see some good old gory action.

They started walking away from each other. When they were about a 100 metres away from each other, the Teacher shouted "Stop!"

"Let's take turns counting", Slater suggested.

"You start!", Dizzy shouted, in a stale attempt at gaining the upper hand.

Slater grinned, almost as if he expected that. "No problemo! ONE", he put his left hand up in the air and put out his index finger.

Dizzy lifted his hand as well and put up both his index and middle fingers, "TWO!"

The old man smiled. 'So far so good' he thought.

"THREE!", Slater continued, holding his little finger down with his thumb.

"FOUR!". Dizzy comfortably let his little finger out from under his thumb.

"FIVE!" Slater quickly opened out all five fingers and licked his lips in anticipation.

The old man now began to chew on his fingernails.

Dizzy took his own sweet time. When he felt he was ready, he quickly put up both hands and let his right index finger loose, "SIX!"

Slater quickly pulled out his gun and sent a bullet flying right through Dizzy's heart with a single shot.

The Teacher quickly tottered towards Slater, his eyes gleaming with teary pride. He patted Slater on his back.

"That was amazingly quick and immaculately accurate my boy!"

"Thank you Mr. McGraw!", Slater replied, finally smiling like a shy teenager.

"And you chose to count till Six? What if he had to start the counting himself???"

Slater stuck out a foot and pointed downwards.

"GENIUS!" the Teacher cried out in joy, because Slater was wearing flip-flops.

Moral of the story: When your hands are full, count with your feet.