| Last Edit March 1998 Why do boys need to shoot things? What compells them to be destructive? And why, when allowed to shoot things (safety first, constrained area, defined target), do they vary the parameters? My children were trained, repeatedly, in gun safety. I have a gun. I don't load it. Ever seen me angry? I don't need bullets! Just pick up that Remington 20-gauge-- and look mad! Only an idiot would question that. But, after many years of nagging, I allowed a used BB rifle into the house. And then, later, a BB gun that looks a little too real. At first it was two boys taking turns shooting into a box backed by a bale of hay. Aiming down a canyon. Safe. Over time, one boy was out by himself. Hopefully, only when I was home and knew. I could control this by running out of BBs. But time goes on. We moved. One boy has grown and gone. The other shoots. Often. Into a box against a fence. Lately, into cans against my Spa. Into the ceiling, using my round-headed sewing pins - the fast way to tack up Christmas ornaments. He hates this house. I do too. I let him. But things have a way of continuing to progress. He got careless. He had an accident. No, he missed the cat. The dog hides. There is only one rabbit left, kept fed and watered until old age can claim it. No, he was more creative than that. If you've read my stories, you know I have a newish 45" TV set. My pride and joy in this chaos. (Sorry, but a 2800sq ft house cannot be squished into 1100 sq ft house and leave the occupants sane.) A remnant of downsizing. My move to the Silicon valley. Correction, I had a 45" newish TV. It now sports a hole - looks somewhat like a mosquito was squashed on the screen. And not on the side either. This is the second projection set he has demolished. The other was taken out with a heavy office-quality tape dispenser thrown at his brother during a temper tantrum. It went through two screens. It was on the right side. We watched TV that way for 6 years. ($600 repair - I said no) This little hole is a bother. It is at the mid upper left - where any artist will tell you your eye goes first. My older son dropped in for a visit, and, little sh..t that he is, promply commented, "Gee, Mom. There's a bug on your TV screen." (Chuckle. Chuckle.). I considered yelling for another hour. I settled for dinner - Pizza. The culrpit rolled his eyes. He is not joining the Boy Scouts on their ski trip this weekend. He is not playing in the snow. I am not very happy. His butt is mine this weekend. The garage needs cleaning. I am not buying BBs. The hand gun will remain unrepaired. The rifle may turn up missing. He has been told that, upon graduation from college, Momma wants a 60" set. With a shield. Maybe it's time I got bullets for my gun. |
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