When You're An Addams

You Need To Aim High

"You're sure this is safe?" April asked, nervously looking over the rather large trebuchet Pugsley was showing off.

"Well, it is when operated properly. I've built them before. This is my biggest, though. Any larger and the stones will be to large to move reasonably." He explained. "No casualties or maimings so far. However, if you are concerned I can show you a safe distance to stand in case of failure? It may be hard to see what I'm referencing with the mechanisms from that distance, though." Already she could see him starting to calculate what a safe distance would be as he looked up at the machine.

After a moment, she shook her head. "If you say its safe, I'll trust it. So, the mechanism and all. How does it work, exactly? I understand the basic idea, but the precise logistics and all I'm not familiar with." Most of her concern faded as his eyes lit up in excitement, reaching to take her hand and pull her closer to showcase his work.

"A Trebuchet utilizes the transfer of gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy. Specifically via a counterweight system." She nodded along, doing her best to understand. Occasionally she asked questions for the terms she didn't recognize, enjoying his enthusiasm.

"Did you build the frame on your own, as well?" She asked, impressed by how smoothly the wood was sanded and the joinings so cleanly done.

"Yes. Honestly the frame took longer than the mechanics since I kept not being pleased with the joinings." He mused. "Sanding took the longest since it was by hand. I normally don't bother with sanding outside of the lever itself, but did this time. Didn't want you getting a splinter or it snagging on one of your cardigans." She paused, fingers still lightly brushing against the frame as she looked up at him.

"You...you sanded everything just so I wouldn't get a splinter?" He nodded, gesturing towards the hand still on the frame.

"You're rather tactile. I figured you might want to touch it, and I didn't want to risk you getting any splinters."

"But...but its huge! It must have taken so long to sand it all!"

"I made sure to account for it in my planning. Still had to add an extra two days of work since I hadn't planned on any intricate carving for the handle on the lever and added it last minute." He explained readily. "Father and Uncle Fester offered to help, but I wanted to do it myself. Learned a lot of new techniques." Gesturing her to follow, he smiled as he pointed to something carved into the pull lever, itself.

"April? You...you named it after me?" He nodded proudly.

"I name each one after a family member. I wanted this one to be yours. Best one I've made, yet." Her eyes watered slightly.

"Can I give you a hug?" She managed, giving a watery smile.

"Um, yes, if you'd like to?" He grunted slightly at the impact of her hug, awkwardly patting her back until she let go. Stepping back from him, she wiped away happy tears.

"Its beautiful, really. I'm honored you named it after me." She insisted. "Ive never had anything named after me before. I'm honored its something so beautifully made."

"The others should be coming out soon. Want to be the one to pull the lever and fire it once they're assembled?"

"I'd be honored." She assured.

By the time everyone was assembled, had adequately praised the contraption, and the rock was set in place an hour had passed. In the end, she'd needed help pulling the lever, but Pugsley was more than happy to do so.

"That. Was. Awesome!" Bren crowed, Chad having joined in on Fester and Gomez's encouragements in pulling the lever before just giddily watching the stone sail into the swamp.