[sm]

The chime on my PC signaled I had Email; “Now what!!” I grumbled to myself.

“Could you please get off the Internet, My husband has been trying to call you with his cell phone, and he has our Grandson with him…”

Fearing the worst, I quickly replied “Is there a problem? Is everyone okay?”

She replied back “Well yes there is problem, not a car wreck or anything – but kinda important, here is his cell phone #.

The voice on the other end “Took you long enough, just what in the hell are doing anyway? I replied I was sending in some Assignments via WebCt…

“Web What? Listen hurry up; meet me at < address> there is a shotgun I need some help on.

Okay here I am minding my own business, sending in homework via dial- up ISP when an old friend from out of town calls me – frantically at 8 0’clock in the morning, and I had no idea why he was in town or anything…

I pull up to the address and the 7 year old grandson greets me, I pick him up [ oomph] and try to keep up with Grandpa who has just left us and is scurrying up the steps to a house…

“Uncle Steve, Grandpa is acting funny what is up?” I told the boy if he found out let me know…

“Here” and with 7 year old boy on my hip I have this Shotgun thrust into my free hand. “Uncle Steve, that gun stinks; it has green stuff on it…”

“Here” I hand the grandson to the Grandpa”.

“There that handsome young man is, would you care for a Blackberry Muffin?” With the head nod approval of Grandpa “Yes ma’am – can Uncle Steve have one too? “ Grandpa piped up “What about me? …” Grandma said you needed to get a flat tire or something like that…”

Phew is right. One could tell the gun had been carried, worn bluing had given way to slight rusting. The wood had a mildew smell, I used my Inova blue light and the bore was spotless.

“My late husband said he knew you back when. I am getting older and just cannot take of a house by myself anymore. I am going to sell this house since the area has gone downhill and move down to where my Sister is…”

Grandpa and she conversed. Me …err…I was real busy with the gun…Then I was asked to visit and bring my “nephew” too.

I spoke up “ Ma’m , this is a 870 Wingmaster 28 ga Skeet Gun and…” she broke me off…

“Steve is it? …I know what that gun is, I bought it for my husband, I shot it as much as he did, only he kept in his truck often times. I would rather see some Grandkid get some use and being as my Sister and I didn’t have children…and our Brother is no good Scoundrel and has ruined his kids…”

Damn, talk about hitting someone in the gut. I knew what she was saying; still the heartstrings had been yanked pretty hard.

“Back your Truck up around back to the shed out back” So I did.

“Grandpa, what is wrong with Uncle Steve?” Well he gets like that about some stuff…kinda hard to explain” Grandpa replied to grandson...

The old Outer’s Target thrower had some rust where the tarp had come undone. Two boxes of White Flyer Targets, over under another tarp. The MEC Verasmec 700 was just like mine – except set up for 28 ga. Inside the rubber tote was also all sorts of charge bars, bushings, Winchester Eleventh edition reloading manual… The old woman could tell I was having a real good time…she rattled off old skeet targets, and how she shot them, the quail hunts, dove hunts with late husband and fussing over who was gonna shoot the 28 ga or the 20 ga. She was gonna keep the 20 – it was her HD defense gun.

“ I feel real bad about the condition , I got sick, and couldn’t get into the attic attend to it” She went to explain about her Home defense shotgun and such…

The 7 year old approached -“Uncle Steve, I don’t understand, you are acting funny…” The old woman laughed. Then she led the boy to the back steps they sat down. Grandpa and I were within earshot, we respected the moment.

“I’m not supposed to take stuff from strangers, said the boy” She explained her late husband knew his Grandpa so she was not really a stranger. “Oh – okay but then I am not supposed to take stuff without paying for it” She replied “I see you have a wallet, how much money you have? Little boy got out his wallet and said “I’m not sure – I think I have 7 dollars, is that right? She said it was. “Oh- I have this – how do you say it? “ rat- holed” He counted the five ones and had a Ten dollar bill folded and stuck in under his NRA member card.

“Well that money doesn’t count lets fold it and put it back in its “rat hole”. She said with a wink, putting fingers to her mouth…”

Truly a Norman Rockwell moment; Grandpa agreed.

Grandpa and I tried, damn that old woman was more hard headed than I am, “Nope, the boy and I made a deal, you saw us shake on it, He gets the whole set up – I got seven dollars; and I still think I got the better end of the deal. She winked and laughed that laugh of hers.

“There is one thing, if it isn’t too much trouble, she spoke with a twinkle in her eye, and excitement in her voice”.

DEAL ! Grandpa and I said in unison. Grandson turned from pulling the handle to see what the racket was all about…

To be continued...

[sm]

“Hi Grandma, yes we are okay…wait Grandma wants to talk to you…”
Phone was handed to me “Now what have you gotten my husband and my precious grandson into?” Saved by the Grandpa whom had snatched the phone from me…” Just meet us for lunch…oh well then okay you can meet us at Academy Sports then lunch…you got any cash…no you don’t want to know – Steve, yeah well he is being himself.”

“Lord help us” was overheard -pretty clear from where I was minding my own business…

“So am I am supposed to slap you or give you a hug?” Grandma asked upon seeing me. “ Grandma, don’t slap Uncle Steve…I bought a shotgun and some other stuff this morning for seven dollars…I don’t have anymore money in my wallet…”.

I didn’t get slapped or hugged, what I got was “that look” She didn’t even look at Grandpa…somehow she figured I was to blame…

So I put Grandson in a shopping cart, Grandma wanted to look at clothes for him…or so she said, she was mumbling something about the men-folk had corrupted “her” grandson enough for one morning…

“Keep up” I said to Grandpa as I pushed the cart toward him and headed off…”Lord help us” was again said by Grandma…

“Excuse me, do you have any 28 ga shells?” I asked. Salesperson said yes and how many did I want…pointing to 4 boxes on the shelf. “ All of them” I replied…

“We had one case left in the back…”

Thanks, I put the case in the cart with the other 4 boxes. I found the kids size ear muffs, glasses, plugs…

“I think you forgot to grab something from that area over there”. Grandpa said with a sigh…

“Nope - I snagged the gun case earlier from that area…while you were looking at the handguns and left me unattended”

“Oh”

“Hi Momma- did you have a hard day at work. I made out like – how do you say it?” Grandpa said “bandit” Boy said “yeah like a bandit see all the stuff I got, and I bought a shotgun and other stuff too…”

“Steve – what did you do to MY son?”

Grandpa sighed, Grandma laughed and all I get is a seven year old to look up at me for answers…

“Momma we have some Mexican Food for you , got some extra cheese dip too…” Mom started to cry, then the dog came in and the Mom’s fast reflexes saved the food on the table…”Your Daddy would have been…then she cried” Widowed mom raising a boy ain’t easy…

Mom, well why not? She was raised to shoot and the boy did have a .22 rifle of his own, some day he would understand his dad’s guns. Right now all he understood was he had a new gun and his Grandpa and adopted Uncle were pretty excited about something.

The boy was torn between what the Grandpa and “Uncle” were doing, getting into the cheese dip, and trying to not get the new tennis shoes dirty. He had tried on the new clothes and they were being laundered…

“See how this works? “ Boy was fascinated by the reloader. Okay “help me do this one hull” I said…”Cool!” Can I do another one?....running into where mom was “ Momma- I just made a shell all by myself…”Handed him a Sharpie and he wrote his name on it. The dogs name was put on the second one, ,Mom’s name on the next…the cheese dip was forgotten for a bit. Umm shells had to be made and named…

Days later…

“Wow, it don’t stink no more. It is really nice and pretty”. Yeah Grandpa and I got hugs. We had taken the 870 all apart, it cleaned up well, Grandpa put a oil stained finish on it. The Character of the gun was there, the worn bluing…it was gorgeous in our eyes…

Grandma came in, and shouldered the gun, “You know Steve- you are good for something – sometimes.” She gave me a hug and whispered “thank you” in my ear. Mom was around the corner… with a copy of Ruark’s Book “ The Old Man and the Boy…had the date of the boy’s Date of Birth, signed by “ Uncle Steve” “
“My little boy is growing up…”

Shotgun was placed on the mantle, little boy took turns in Adults laps as each one read a chapter…

To be continued...

[Larry Ashcraft]

Steve,

Excellent, excellent.

this is a 870 Wingmaster 28 ga Skeet Gun
Caught my eye (wonder why? ;) )

Keep it coming!

[Preacherman]

Steve, if you find anyone else a 28ga. 870 without finding me one, I'm going to have to come up there and have a serious talk with you. It will involve Confession, and you Will Not enjoy the penance I've thought up for you!!!

:neener:

[sm]

Ray Ban Sunglasses, Bob Allen Vest with shooting patches and pins, Nike tennis shoes – the Lady stood erect and confident. I had picked her up and we had headed down to some property out in the country.

We had taken her 20 gauge and other handguns and cleaned them up as well. Some new ammo was bought for her, just part of what we had discussed.

She was a pass shooter, preferred the low gun mount. We had arrived earlier than the others were told we would meet.

“That first bird jitters, never goes away does it?” she remarked. “Nope” I replied.

“Pull it”

She dusted the damn thing. “Well got that out of the way”. Hell – give a old a lady a double will ya?’

She dusted them too. “Okay – old lady still has it – huh? I’m straight so far…” She says to me- we cracked up laughing. Me – I wasn’t gonna shoot and get beat and shown up. I may be dumb – but I ain’t stupid. I was here for the moment…

Well the dog met the older woman, got petted and made a beeline for me. Dropped his tennis ball and waited for his peppermint. The others were getting to know one another, the story of the old ladies husband meeting of the Grandpa, how the boys father had passed…

I was playing with the dog, then when he started barking I went to investigate…he had found some doves and forgot about the tennis ball…chasing doves he was having too much fun.

I had tossed the tennis ball hard the way we had come – toward the others. The boy had his shotgun in hand, he was wearing his eyes and ears, all the adults were looking at me.

My gut said something was up – had something to do with me…

“The boy wants to shoot his shotgun- he wants you to help him” The Grandpa said. I politely suggested perhaps he, the Grandpa should do the honors. All the adults said he wanted me to help him. Besides they were gonna take a video, take pictures…and …and…

I looked at his mom, she had a tear run down her cheek “ Please”…She handed me 3 bandana’s. “ I told my son about your signature…”

Grandpa held the gun. I make the bandana as I wore one for a headband, the little boy was ecstatic I put the second one on the dog, I put mine on. I then had the blue plastic placed around my neck – the ear plugs.

“Uncle Steve, I want to shoot that first shell I made and break my first target with my new shotgun – okay?”

Forget first bird jitters…I have been under pressure before – this was …oh boy!

I have a 7 year old boy with a new adult sized 870 Wingmaster in 28 ga with a fixed skeet choked bbl.

“Uncle Steve, you are taller than me, we should sit down like we do the .22 rifle”. He then went to the Target thrower and waited. The old lady was chosen to throw the bird. The dog decided to sit off to one side…

The old lady whispered to me on the way to the boy “ Seven dollars says you miss”.

I got the boy nestled in my lap. We discussed how we were gonna do this.” Permisson to see ‘em “ The lady threw 2 targets for us to see.

The AA hull with the boys name was loaded and chambered. It was loud, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop…

“PULL IT” the boy said…

Well everyone got to shoot the 28 gauge. Seems somehow there just happened to be shells with folks names on them…


Targets flew, the dog barked with excitement, the videos and pictures were taken.

“Uncle Steve, I have 10 shells with your name on them – here, show me what a double is…”

Well I managed to break the singles and doubles, 10/10 “ That is a straight – right? asked the boy…”Yep” I replied.

Inside the deli tray was served, ice tea and coffee consumed. Talk of staying in touch and such were discussed…

I went outside to take the dog something to eat. I noticed the boys’ wallet on his Mom’s car seat. I placed the seven dollars the old lady had passed me in the wallet.

To keep it - give it away

[kudu]

Great story Steve

:)

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, this was a great way to start my day....

[Rupestris]

Thank you Steve.
I think moss has begun to grow on my trigger finger lately. At least I can live vicariously 'til some free time comes my way... :p

[wileyj]

Steve. Thanks for the story. I say it is unfair because you should not make a person's eyes tear up at work so early in the morning.
Great sentiment. My boys are 21 and 33 with enthusiasm but not the same as a young man getting a properly formatted first start.
Keep up the good work

..wiley
Racing Miata's; Good Cigars; Big Guns
Houston, TX

[sm]

Thanks for the kind words.

The real thanks goes to a certain 74 year old lady, who remembered the kindness a Grandpa extended to her and her husband back when.

The Boy, well seems as if I am at fault - again. :p

The boy does his homework in a more timely fashion - seems he has been mounting his BB Gun with the sights removed. Yeah well - somehow the boy has his own copy of Brister's Shotgunning: The Art and the Science. Forget Scooby-Doo, seems as if Grandpa myself and the BB gun was more important.

Seems as if all the door hinges, car hinges, trash can wheels,...etc., have been lubricated too. There is not a squeak one in or around Mom's place now. Seems the boy got real interested in the Tin of Winchester Gun Oil .

When I shared with Grandparents, and his Mom what I learned about the value of that Winchester tin ...That one was put up and he was bought a new bottle of oil to play with.

Grandpa is going to see where his is...These things bring up to $60 I found out in Tulsa. :what:

The bedtime stories...well the Choice is Ruark or Brister, usually Mom ends up reading both...the dog is of course in the middle of things...gets all excited at the word " quail" ...I might have had something to do with that...peppermint is great for training dogs...( bribing them too) .


"Momma, are we really gonna move near Grandpa and Grandma" - When mom assured him after school finished up this year - plans had been made. He damn near put a skylight in mom's kitchen I'm told.

Seems as if Grandpa happens to know where the quail are...and well...you figure it out. ;)

The really neat thing is. The older lady will be moving about an hour away from where Granparents live now. So these folks will have the ability to stay in touch.

Or as Grandma put it " Far enough away from 'Uncle Steve' ...

The boy's mom replied " don't bet on it".

I think I have use of the dog house whenever I visit.... :D

One never knows whom is paying attention to them. Grandpa was just doing the right thing so many years ago - he never gave it much thought. He was busy trying to take care of a wife and daughter at the time...

Yeah well - my allergies "probably" caused my eyes to water some, being outdoors and all...

I don't want to have $7 riding on whether I break a target again - not for a long long time anyway...

Maybe the adage needs to be...Ain't much a boy can't do with $7 and a 28 ga. ;)

My signature...the wearing of a bandana to shoot in...

You see a 7 year old kid, in another state SE of AR , and his dog wearing a gray with black design bandana that's him. The bandana I wore that day...for some reason it is in a box, along with pcs of broken clay, spent hulls,...Mom is gonna make a keepsake of that day...

He also has a Win AA 25 Straight shooting patch with a pin made from a AA 28 ga headstamp. Some old guy, an Adopted Uncle I'm told fired, that headstamp when it was still a whole shell - he broke his first 25 in 28 ga with it...

[CaCrusin]

You are Wordsmith of the first order. I feel priviledged to read your stories. The humor and heartwarming style has obviously touched others as they have touched me. I'd love to read more. Where can I find your work?

Thank you for the minutes of pleasure you shared with us

CaCrusin :cool:

[357wheelgunner]

You guys need to do a High Road fundraiser and write up a book made of sm's stories and the 101 threads. I'm sure Dave McC could contribute a few essays about social shotgunning.

I'd buy 2.....

[WhiteKnight]

This has got to be one of the best stories yet.

[JohnBT]

Thanks, that's a great story.

I second the book idea.

John

[Brian Dale]

Among the "must-have" books to have on the shelf: Brister, Misseldine, Ruark, Ortega y Gasset, Capstick and a few others.

Soon to be added: McCracken and sm. :cool:

sm, about the gal that started the whole episode: not to get all flaky on you, but every once in a while we meet a saint. :)