Chapter 921: Part 1
I packed up some guns and ammo, safety gear and a few just in case items before heading out. There are several range options but I have found that taking a first timer to an in-door range with ballistic protection, remote targets holders, climate control and a clubhouse was the best way to get them started. I picked her up at the apartment and drove to her the closest range to that residence. On the way we thoroughly discussed the 4 rules of firearms safety to include a deeper explanation of each one and why ignoring it could be disastrous. Once we were checked in and, on the line, I went over the basics of grip, stance, sight alignment, recoil management and other fundamentals. When she was ready, I pulled out a blued Ruger MKII .22 pistol and we loaded up some magazines. It always amazes me how well women can shoot right out the gate, might have something to do with reduced egos and more care and concern about how they go about doing things. Within a few magazines she had the basics down and was putting holes in reasonably sizes groups. After going through 50+ rounds of ammo we upgraded to the Smith & Wesson Shield Plus. It took her a full magazine before she adapted to the increased muzzle flip and recoil, but when she did she liked the enhanced power. Over the next hour or so she also shot a 4” .38 special and a compact .380acp. In the end she liked the .22 the best, but understood for protection she needed something a little stouter.
We gathered up the guns, ammo and gear, swept up our brass, washed our hands, and went to grab some chow. I told her we could go wherever she wanted, within reason, and she selected a semi-fast food burger place that offered quick cuisine that was a little better than your normal franchise fair. Once there she got some cheeseburger sliders with a side of onion rings and strawberry lemonade, I went for the deluxe bacon cheeseburger and cheese curds with a Dr. Pepper. As we chowed down our grub she confessed to having a lot of fun and wanting to go shooting again. The event seemed to change her mind a bit about the right to keep and bear arms too. Something I intended to keep fostering in her young mind. I told her when she turned 21 it was quite possible that I would be buying her very first gun, something brand new that fit her hand. Rest assured, having to wait until that age also taught her a lesson in unconstitutional gun laws.
After some more food and 2nd Amendment talk, she told me that she really liked having me around and that she really hoped her mother and I would stay together for the long haul. I told her I had the same hopes and felt like her mom did too. The topic turned to her date on Friday with friend zone and how it wasn’t all that different from the dozens of other times they went out and did things, that was until he dropped her off at the apartment. She said he walked her to the door and stood there anxiously before leaning in and kissing her. “I was a little surprised I guess, but I didn’t hate it… Okay, it was actually really nice.” I responded that she just needed to make sure not to go too far too fast and that “he needed to prove he was worth whatever she offered up to him”. Just then the skies opened, flames and lightning began to shower me, and the Old Lords of Paradox jumped down slamming the are-you-kidding-me war hammer into my skull. Even when those cautionary words came out of my mouth the irony was not lost on me and tried to make me choke. Still, somehow, I made it clear that “men become hyper focused on that one thing” and that “they will do or say just about anything to get it”. I explained that if he knows it will take time and effort to win her favor, and he is willing to wait around and earn it, then eventually she will find herself in a real relationship worthy of exploring the next step or steps. She smiled at me, much like her mother does and said, “Well, I am definitely not gonna get pregnant in college like mom did, she has been harping on me about abstinence and safe sex since I was 12”. I replied with “Good, because if she tells me I have to make your boyfriend disappear you know I am obligated to do it” which got her to laugh out loud.
The daughter then informed me that now that she knows how to shoot, I had other things to teach her. The list was lengthy but included how to get out of a choke hold, how to properly use her new taser, how to change the tire on her Audi wagon and how to get her mom to accept that she is not in high school anymore. I replied that the last one might be out of my knowledge base, but I could definitely help her with the rest. She also updated me on the stalker-situation informing me that she has only seen the boy once since our talk and he quickly changed directions when he saw her coming. She was glad he got the message, but didn’t understand why he didn’t just accept her original explanation as to why she said no. We talked a bit more about human behavior and personal security before cleaning up our table.
She invited me to the apartment to watch a movie with her on Netflix or Prime, I agreed, and we are currently watching a pretty good action flick featuring Mark Walberg. Before we started the movie she made us some microwave popcorn, a rare treat in the apartment as her mother despises the smell, and poured us each a glass of Coca-Cola. We aren't talking much as I sit here on my laptop and she stares at her phone, but all of this is helping the time pass by and I think its making her feel a lot better than she would have being in the apartment alone.
You will probably have to wait for tomorrow for Part 2, because it hasn't happened yet.