By the Lake

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*Ingress runs outside, a wooden slingshot in hand.*

Hi Cuthbert! I brought the slingshot Eddie gave me for my lesson. He made it all by himself.

Comments

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"Hey, no problem. That's what practice is for. Here--"

He scoots a bit closer, correcting her posture with a touch here and there. "Keep your elbow up, and your arm as straight as you can."

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Okay. Like this?

*She pulls back the band again and lets go. This time the shot knocks a can and makes it totter.*

I hit it! I hit it!

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert nods, pleased.

"Good. You're doing fine, but see if you can't hit the next one a bit harder?"

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Okay! I'll try.

*She pulls back the band once more. This time as she aims, she concentrates very very very hard. Her eyes squint and she sticks her tongue out just a little. Her arm wavers with the tension of pulling back the band, but the sword fighting practice has made her little arms strong.

She sends the shot flying and then a can goes flying off the log.*

I did it! Did you see that? I knocked it off and made it go flying!

*She jumps up and down in excitement.*

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"So you did."

If anyone had ever introduced Bert to the concept of the high-five, he'd be giving Ingress one now. As it is, he claps her on the shoulder, grinning.

"Well done."

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Yeah. And it was far away, but I still did it.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"Aye, so you did. Keep practicing, and you'll be passing me up before you know it."

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Really? Show me how you can do it! You always knock the cans over.

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"Alright--"

Cuthbert takes his own slingshot, loading and drawing it back more slowly than usual to let Ingress watch. The most notable difference between him and Ingress is the ease with which he moves, as if the slingshot were a natural extension of his body.

The ball flies, and hits one of the cans dead center, sending it flying.

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*She claps her hands.*

YAY!

Now let me try again.

*She repeats, trying to mimic Cuthbert as much as she can. POW! Another can goes over.*

This is the best lesson ever! I'm knocking them down all over the place!

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Bert smiles down at her fondly.

"You're doing well, say true. Now--"

He hunkers down again to impart some other piece of advice, and the lesson goes on.