Young Writers Society

Word Count: 1606

Jerry turned around to see everyone in the back. “Roy and I are gonna clear this building. When we get back we're gonna take you guys to the range there and give you your first lesson in shooting.” Beth was about to protest but decided against it and crossed her arms. Jerry and Roy hoped out of the truck and headed to the front door. The clear glass was stenciled with BOB'S GUNS & AMMO in bold red letters.

“Hey Jerry,” Roy said. “You take point this time.”

“Take point?”

“You go first. What you said in the truck made a lot of sense. Should something happen to one of us someone else needs to be ready to take our place. I want you to clear the building this time. I'll back you up.” Jerry nodded. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He had never been point and shooting was pretty new to him still, but he had been the one to bring up the idea.

Opening the door, Jerry and Roy rushed in making a quick sweep over the room. “Looks empty. Let's check the back.” Jerry moved the way that Roy had been teaching him to clear rooms. Checking behind the counters for bodies or crazies. So far not a single sign of the dead.

“Does this feel off to you?” Roy asked in a hushed voice.

“Yeah, none of the guns are missing.” Jerry got to the door of the back room with Roy right behind him. Jerry didn't have time to try the handle. The door came down toward him with an older man gnashing his false teeth at him. Jerry quickly struck the man with the butt of his shotgun and fired a round that took off the top portion of his head. “Nicely done. You handled that perfectly. I've seen a lot of rookies freeze up when something jumps out at them like that.” Roy patted Jerry on the shoulder before the two of them checked the rest of the building. “Alright. Building is clear and we have a good three-sixty view of the area. Let's get shooting.”

Roy got everyone on line with a gun except for Beth who refused to touch one. Dragging out a bunch of ammo boxes from behind the counter, the small band of survivors began firing at the targets some distance away. The black metal cutouts would teeter as a bullet struck them with a solid rung. Little by little the group's aim got better and better. Jerry sat beside Beth with a freshly made bottle. “How you holding up?” he asked.

“Not bad,” Beth responded bouncing Marian a little. “I just wish people would stop pushing me to carry a gun.”

“It's the only safe way now,” Jerry said. “But I understand your hesitation about it.” He took Marian and quietly fed her the bottle. He smiled at the sight of her in the oversized ear protectors. She had fought with having them put on, but once she got comfortable with them she didn't want them off. Jerry idly wondered if the silence the gave her helped with dealing with the world.

“I do want to carry a weapon,” Beth said quietly. “I just... I won't be able to handle hurting someone again.”

“How about this then. When they're done and everyone is gone, you and I will go out and I'll show you how to shoot. Granted I'm not the best teacher since I don't really know how to shoot myself. But I'm a little gentler than Roy is.” Beth smiled and nodded. “Well let's start with the ground rules. Always treat a gun like its loaded and don't put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot.”

“Yeah, that's the one I need to work on.”

“Don't worry. If you practice then it will be like second nature.”

“Alright guys. Reload your weapons,” Roy called out.

“Hey, Roy,” Jerry said walking up. “Let's break for lunch. Beth wants me to show her how to shoot.”

“Alright. Don't give her any bad habits now,” Roy took Marian and rocked her softly to sleep at he headed to the truck.

“Alright,” Jerry said motioning for Beth to join him. He pulled out his pistol and handed it to her. “Now, check it.” Beth pulled the slide a little and saw the little brass casing in the chamber. “Alright. Keep a good grip on the pistol and aim down the sights. Take your time. This is just practice right now.”

Beth stood there, her hands started shaking making aiming impossible. “I can't do this,” she said handing the pistol back.

“Yes you can. Here,” Jerry took out the clip and removed the round in the chamber. He handed her the unloaded gun. “You know I used to be all for the gun control law. I hated guns. I was convinced that the fact that we had guns was the reason for all the crime in our country. It's only been a week and now I can't imagine not having one.” Beth took the empty pistol and held it tight.

“Did all this really change your mind?”

“Not really. But they've saved my life several times. So I can't blame the gun for the crime. Load it.” Beth took the clip and slammed it in. Pulling the slide she launched a round into the chamber. “Now take aim, and when you're ready squeeze the trigger.” Beth took a deep breath trying to steady herself. Squeezing the trigger she was almost surprised when it went off. The black cutout teetered back and a fresh silver spot appeared in the middle of the head where her bullet struck. “Wow... first time shooting and you're already doing better than me.”

Beth giggled and handed the pistol back. “I think that's enough for me today.” Jerry nodded and holstered the pistol. The pair of them walked back to the building to set up their sleeping bags.

Roy sat cataloging the new ammo that had been gathered. Jerry sat outside and watched the sun set on the Texan desert. He grimaced after sipping from the cup of coffee in his hand. Now more than ever, he wished that he had his special brewer and expensive coffee. The old fashion way of the just dropping the beans in a pot and boiling them didn't pull out the real flavors left in it. Just the bitter flavor with a hint of coffee. Setting the cup down on the step he looked up at the stars. “Nice night,” Beth said sitting next to him.

“Yep,” Jerry remarked, “You don't see these many stars in the city.”

The two of them sat in silence for a while. Just listening to the peaceful wind that blew over the dry earth. “Thanks for showing me how to shoot,” Beth said quietly. “I just don't think I could ever do it when I needed to.”

“I didn't think I'd be able to either. But when you come to the point where it's either you or them, survival instincts just kick in.”

“I just feel useless. I don't have any medical training, or that much experience in shooting.”

“I was the general manager of an advertisement company. Just what qualifications do you think I have for this?” Beth laughed at his wisecrack. “Listen, everyone might not have been prepared for this; but no one is useless in these situations. Everyone has something that can be contributed.” Jerry patted her shoulder. “Let's get some shut eye. We still have a long drive ahead of us.” Jerry flung what was left of the watered down and bitter coffee to the dry, thirsty earth. Locking the door behind him, Jerry sat down on his sleeping bag and pulled off the heavy boots. Stretching out his toes he sighed as he let them breath.

“You're gonna kill someone with those things,” Sue-Anne said covering her nose in a joking manner.

“You just remember that if you decide you wanna try to muscle me out,” Jerry commented. He massaged his aching feet, not used to spending so much time up and about.

“Ain't gonna be any musclin'. Let me ask you somethin'. With everything that's been happenin', you still manage to hold yourself together. How do you do it?”

Jerry looked to Marian, who was sleeping soundly in his sleeping bag still wearing the oversized ear protection. “I found a reason to stay alive.”

“Must be nice. Wish I had somethin' like that.” Sue-Anne turned over and pulled the sleeping bag over her head. A moment later a soft snore came from the bag and would return in a long and steady rhythm.

“Some people can sleep in anything,” Roy said coming around the counter. “We got a lot more ammo from the store and several good guns and a few cheapy ones that we can give away.”

“Sounds like a plan. We doing a watch rotation or anything?” Jerry asked through a yawn.

“Doors closed on all sides, even doors that are between us and the outside doors. I think we're good to just rest for the night.” Roy patted Jerry on the shoulder before heading over to his sleeping mat.

Slipping into the sleeping bag with Marian he cradled her to his chest so that she would stay warm throughout the night. Gently placing a kiss on her head he wished her sweet dreams and happiness.