CHAPTER 6
The next night, instead of using cans for target practice, Ethan’s dad set up a huge piece of wood. He marked the middle with a bright green sticker.
Ethan aimed for the center, but his first shot barely hit the target. But he’d still hit it! He couldn’t believe it.
“I hit it!” he yelled happily.
His dad smiled. “Good job,” he said.
Ethan’s next shot was closer to the center of the target, but it was still far from hitting it. But he didn’t give up.
He just kept trying. And the more he shot, the closer he got to the center.
The next night, Dad cut the piece of plywood down to make it smaller. He made it even smaller the night after that. And soon, Ethan could hit a root beer can from 30 yards away.
By the time the next hunting season came, the combination of Ethan’s gun safety class and his father’s tutoring had made him better at using the gun. He felt really good about his skills.
One day in early November, Ethan was eating breakfast. His dad walked into the kitchen.
“You can shoot after school without me,” he told Ethan, “as long as you shoot in the woods behind our house. And you have to make sure to follow all the safety rules. If you keep improving the way you have been, you may be ready for a real deer hunt this year.”
Ethan was thrilled. He’d been waiting all his life for a real deer hunt. He knew what that meant. A real hunt, a real gun, a real target.
Finally, he’d be one of the guys. He’d be treated like a grownup. It would be amazing.
That afternoon after school, Ethan headed out in the woods behind the house. He made sure the area was safe. He loaded his gun.
He shot carefully at his target, an old soup can. By now, his aim was nearly perfect.
After a few shots, Ethan paused to recheck his gun. He picked it back up again, held it straight, and aimed at another can.
The woods were completely silent. All that Ethan could hear was the movement of a few small creatures crunching through the leaves as they ran around on the ground.
Suddenly, Ethan saw a small squirrel scurrying around near his target. Ethan lowered his gun.
I wonder if I could hit that squirrel, he thought. He smiled. I bet I could. I’m going to try it!
Ethan raised the gun back up. He lowered his aim toward the ground. He looked at the squirrel through the gun’s scope.
Slowly and carefully, Ethan pulled the trigger.