A Little Girl's Guide to Murder

Gun Safety

A few years later, around the winter months, probably late November or early December. Both Esmeralda, 17, and Ariel, now 9, were outside in their backyard.

Esmeralda laid out a few different choices of guns on the ground as she kneeled down.

"Ariel!" She called out, her little sister running around in a circle thinking she was spinning.

Esmeralda couldn't help but laugh as Maroda came out on the back porch and sat down giving a chuckle.

She got up and ran over to Ariel picking her up. "Rah!" She yelled as she swept her off her feet.

Ariel screamed quite a bit as she laughed all the same. "Esmeralda!" She grabbed onto her.

She grinned and took her over to the guns. "We gotta practice."

"But we practiced yesterday!" The 6 year old whined.

"I know, I know. But we have to practice again and again until you get it right. Otherwise, Mom's gonna bite your ears off." She playfully snapped at her as Ariel giggled, she sat her on one side of the guns.

"What're we gonna go through first?"

"Rules." Esmeralda said she sat down and shivered a bit.

"Most important?"

"Yes."

"All guns are always loaded. Never keep your finger on the trigger unless you MEAN to shoot. Never point a gun at yourself. Always check to see if the Safety's on."

"Good." She nodded.

"Then the others are... Make sure the barrel is clear of any obstructions before loading and shooting. Don't rely on the gun's safety to keep it from firing. Always use the proper ammunition."

"And if the gun gets jammed?"

"Hold your shooting position for several seconds; then with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, carefully unload the gun."

"Good girl."

"Oh! And learn the mechanical and handling characteristics of the gun you're handling."

"Amazing. Now gun types." She picked up a black and army green pistol by it barrel and pointed it towards the ground.

"Walther P99 pistol."

She nodded putting it down and picking up a small silver barreled revolver type pistol.

".44 Magnum."

She smile and sat it down. "Alright... This one." She picked up a small pistol.

"SIG Pro."

She sat it down and picked up a tiny barreled gun that looked like it was pulled out of a mafia movie.

"Luger pistol!"

She picked up a well gripped and carved pistol.

"IWI Jericho..."

"Number?"

"Uh... 9... 51? No! 941!"

"Good!" She sat it down and picked up a small compressed looking pistol.

"Um... It's a SIG..."

"What kind?"

"...SIG... Hm... SIG Sauer P220?"

"Yes! Good job!!" She kissed her head and clicked each pistol towards some sand bags in their yard to make sure they were all unloaded then put the safety on and sat them back in a gun bag with their own special spots then zipped and locked it.

"Are we gonna do the rifles?"

"Not today." She chuckled. "We only had time for the pistol."

"Big sisssss!"

"I'm sorryyyyyy"

"Mooooooom!"

Maroda laughed. "I'll let you do the rifles tomorrow."

"Yay!"

Esmeralda picked the back up and Ariel as she walked to the porch and sat Ariel down. "Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Do I get to drive Ariel to school her first day?"

"Which car?"

"...the sports car?"

She raised an eyebrow and looked at Esmeralda.

"Wel-"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yes." Maroda chuckled. "You only get to be young once, might as well."

Esmeralda kissed her Mom's cheek. "Thanks Mommy."

"You're welcome."