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]

Cuthbert's waiting, with his own slingshot, as well as the pouch of rubber balls the bar gave him when he asked for "something good for a kid to practice a slingshot with".

"Hey! That looks like a fine slingshot--Eddie's good at carving, isn't he?"

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Yeah, he is. And Tom fixed the band so it was easier for me to pull.

*She smiles up at him, her eyes sparkling in the sun.*

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

Cuthbert grins at her. "Good. Want to get started, then?"

There are ten empty cans set up on a fallen log--about a foot farther back than they were for Ingress's last lesson.

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Yeah! This slingshot is stronger cos the handle's bigger so I bet I knock down all the cans. I bet I can knock them right into the lake!

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

"Well, I'm not sure how much Sunshine Dust would appreciate that, but let's see what you can do."

He hands her the pouch of practice shot and moves back, hunkering down to watch.

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*She loads the shot into the cup of the slingshot. Aiming she puuuuuuulls back the band and lets go!

The shot doesn't quite make it to the log, much less the cans.*

Phooey.

[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.