Once Bitten

Part Eight

The next day my dad went out into the enclosed barn for a few minutes and told me to wait inside. About 10-15 minutes later he came and got me and told me to go with him. When we got into the barn I saw he had hand-made targets set up on small bales of hay and three different guns on top of a round bale. He picked up the first gun which was just a small pistol he checked it then handed it to me. "Shoot the target." I raised the gun and aimed it, my hands were shaky. He stood behind me and held my hands steady on the gun, "Now aim and shoot." I shot.. and missed. I was a little disappointed. "Its alright, that was your first time. We're doing this so you can get practice. I shot again and it was a little closer to the target but not by much. We practiced with the pistol for another half hour and my aim was perfected, "I'm amazed, Mae. Good job!" It almost felt as normal as any of the shooting games I'd play. He took the pistol from me and handed me a shotgun. He helped with showing me how to hold it. I knew I could do it since I already mastered shooting with a pistol. "Go on." I aimed and pulled the trigger the shot made me fall backwards onto the ground. Dad smirked and tried not to laugh when he helped me up. I stood in place again ready to shoot, "keep your feet firmly on the ground, now you know how strong it is so don't let it do the same." I shot again it jerked me a little but I got it. We practiced a little while longer then was time for the rifle. He handed it to me, "with this gun you'll practice on looking down your sights." He tapped the scope on the top trying to point it out to me. "It'll be better for shooting your target in a longer range." We practiced with it and I got it, I was proud of myself. Dad patted my back, "you now know how to defend yourself, but I still gotta train you a little more."