Be Careful Where You Aim

I think some visitors have noticed that I'm generally pretty lucky (knock on wood). I've done some really dumb things, some I would do again and some I wouldn't. One dumb activity was playing with homemade slingshots when I was growing up. Most of the boys in my neighborhood had them. If we'd only shot at targets to see who was most accurate, that would have been great. But we just HAD to shoot at each other. The luck? I still have both eyes!

Many times we had duels (quick-draw style). We'd start with slingshots sticking out of our pockets and one rock in our hands. On the count of 3, we drew and fired. If we both missed, we would reload using a pile of rocks conveniently placed at our feet. It always ended badly. My brother once nailed me right between the eyes just above the nose. I had to run into the house for a pack of frozen veggies (to ease my pain). OMGosh that hurt. But I went back out to do it again. The next time it was my brother's turn to run for an ice-pack.

During one game of army, a boy from next door (Billy) and I were trying to hit his little brother. He was such a rotten kid--his dad let him get away with murder. To make a long story short, he was standing near his dad because he thought we wouldn't dare hit him. Billy shot and missed, so I gave it a try. I missed the boy, but hit his father square in back--he was shirtless!!! He yelled so loud (what a baby).

I knew I was dead, so I just stood there waiting for the end. What the heck, I'd had a good 10 or 11 years. But instead of coming for me, the man ran into his house (probably for a pack of frozen veggies). His wife did yell at me for 2 minutes, but that was it. They didn't even tell my parents. I was so lucky--my dad would've killed me. I got away with it!

But I didn't. I felt really guilty about hitting the dad. Years later (after the neighbors moved) I told my parents what I'd done and my dad laughed--he already knew. The neighbors DID tell my dad, but he didn't mention it to me because then he would have had to punish me. This was VERY unlike my dad, but he let it go for a reason. I knew my victim spoiled his youngest son rotten and was tough on Billy, but I didn't know he was abusive and I didn't know Billy was his stepson. The guy was a real jerk.

I don't excuse my bad judgement--I shouldn't have played with slingshots. But I stopped feeling guilty about that errant shot. I should have suspected something at the time just from the way Billy smiled when it happened. A few years after the shot, I made Billy have an unfortunate encounter with a mushroom, but that's another story.