HOLLIS MCCALISTER SUMMER CAMP

by Keith McCloud

  I walk over to where Stella is and then I walk over to each of the targets to look at them. Then I walk back over to Stella.

  “Can you start the targets moving just so I can view them once?” I ask.

  “Why would we want to do that? You need to be able to shoot the target and be able to handle the element of surprise. You need to be able to think fast on your feet. Once we put our plan in motion, you are not going to have time to study the target first and come up with how you are going to shoot a live target. You don’t have the time for that. I love the fact, though, that you like to plan all your moves because that is exactly what we need you to do with our plan. Your ability to plan your every move is a benefit for us. This will help us not miss anything. So back to your original question: sorry, I can’t show you how the targets will be moving,” Stella says.

  “Okay then, where do you want me to stand? I would hide if I were you guys. Once I start shooting I am not going to promise you that one of the arrows doesn’t go flying across the room and hit one of you. I will try my best to make sure I only hit the target, but again no promises on my part. So let’s get this started,” I say.

  “Okay then, come over here and stand. Anita Kay, Trevor and myself will make sure we are not in the line of fire from a flying arrow. I will tell you what we will do for you, though, we will start the targets off slow and give you a chance to hit a few targets and then hopefully get into a groove. So are you ready?” Stella asks.

  Then Stella, Trevor, and Anita Kay move over the side and stand behind this metal half-wall.

  “I am ready, so please turn on the machine. I have my arrows in my pouch and I have my crossbow,” I say.

  I hear this noise and then the targets start to move: one slowly starts to come towards me. I grab my arrow and load it and I aim and shoot. I hit the target and the next is coming at me. I grab another arrow and I load it, aim and shoot at the next target. I hit it also, and then the next target comes faster towards me and then I grab an arrow and load it and then aim and I shoot and hit the target, and now one more is coming and it is as fast as the other one. I hurry and load my arrow and I aim, and take the shot and again I hit the target. I hit the target every time and I am not sure how well I have done.

  “I am impressed so far. You hit each target. You didn’t miss any of them. Now let’s see where you hit them,” Stella says.

  I walk up to the targets along with Stella and Trevor to see what areas I hit on the target. Anita Kay stayed over by the side and watched. She seems a little distant of the weapons. She doesn’t want to be around the weapons, I can tell. Must be for some reason, which I will remember to ask her during our session. For now I need to look at the targets and concentrate on how I am going to be able to hit the targets when they get faster.

  “I can’t believe it: each one you hit right where you were supposed to hit them. Just perfect, you can’t get any better than that. How is such a nerd boy like you able to do so well with the crossbow? No offense, Hollis. You for now are just doing so good with that crossbow. You seem to be a natural at this,” Trevor says.

  “By the way, no offense taken on calling me a nerd. I have been called that for years now and one, I am used to it, and two, I like it, it makes me feel smart,” I say.

  “You did hit the target in perfect spots. You needed to hit each one right in the heart and each target you hit right in the heart. I mean they were dead on. So now let’s get ready and move the targets faster and move them around more. So they will be going back and forth left and right and forward. We will see how you do with that. Anita Kay and Trevor, let’s get back behind the wall again. Hollis, you need to load up your pouch again with arrows. Are you going to use the same crossbow?”

  “Yes, this crossbow is the perfect weight and size. It just feels good when I hold it. I am ready when you guys are. Do I go and stand in the same spot that I stood before?” I ask.

  “Yes please, stand over on the same spot. Now you will have the whole room to move around. We will be behind the wall there watching you. Remember: concentrate, but be really fast about it. Watch all over because the targets could jump out and surprise you,” Stella says.

  “Wait, what are you talking about, the targets might surprise me?” I ask.

  “Oh nothing, just concentrate on the targets. So you are ready? I am turning on the targets. There will be a total of eight targets this time,” Stella says.

  I get on my spot and then the first target starts towards me. Not too fast, but it’s coming. I put the arrow in and I aim and then I shoot. I hit the target and then the next target starts coming at me and it is much faster than the first one. I hurry and get the arrow set and then aim and fire, then the next target is already coming and fast. I load the arrow and shoot and head to the next target that is moving all over and I shoot. I can hear myself hitting the target, but not sure where, since they are coming so fast at me. I think I have hit four targets already. I have already lost count, they are coming fast. I aim and I shoot, next one up I load, aim and shoot. The next one is coming even faster and moving sideways and moving up in the air. So I move and then hit the ground and shoot higher at it. Then there is nothing, no targets. They have stopped coming, but the targets are still on, so I start walking around looking and I don’t see any targets, and then all of a sudden I hear a noise and before I can react the target is right on me. I do not have time to get my crossbow and load it. The target slams right into me, hitting me hard, and knocks me down. I hit the ground pretty hard. Man, that smarts. Stella comes running over and I can hear Trevor and Anita Kay also coming.

  “Hollis, are you okay?” Stella asks.

  “Yes, I just need to lie here for a second or two and gather myself. That target was a surprise and I was not ready for it. That last target got the better of me. Now I know why you said what you said earlier. I did not look up, or I would have been able to see that target. I could hear the target machine still going, so I knew there was another one coming, but I never expected it would be coming from above,” I say.

  “Before we do anything else, let’s make sure you are okay. Where did the target hit you?” Trevor asks.

  “It did not hit me in any particular part of my body, it just hit and surprised me and then knocked me down. So it did not hurt one area. If anything, it hurt my pride. I should have looked up and it would not have hit me. I am fine, I might be sore tomorrow, but that most likely will be from all the exercising that I have done today. I am fine and just need to get up and we need to check the targets and see what kind of training I need to be able to hit the moving targets, especially with the speed of them,” I say.

  “Let’s check all the targets and see which ones you hit and which ones you missed and the ones where you hit the target. The first target you hit perfectly, right in the heart. The next target again you hit it right in the heart. The third target again right in the heart. The fourth target right in the heart. The fifth one and the sixth one you also hit right in the heart. Oh wait, let’s look at number seven. Well, you hit the target and you hit the heart, but you hit it on the edge. This target was the real fast one going side to side and up and down. You did very well hitting these targets. You did hit the heart and you just barely missed hitting it dead in the heart. I am so impressed with how you use the crossbow. Man, you are going to be dangerous with that crossbow. Those wereboons and vampires are not going to be happy when we start killing some of them. You did very well. You got surprised on the last one, but you did great on all the other targets. Now you know what to expect and yes you need to expect the unexpectable. That, even though you learned the hard way, taught you a lesson. Now I bet you will be ready for everything coming at you and you will not be surprised,” Trevor says.

  “Yes, I will be ready this time. I will not get surprised again,” I reply.

  “Okay, now we need to pick another weapon for you to train on. We will do the crossbow again tomorrow. Do you want to try the knives or the ninja star?” Stella ask
s.

  “Yes let’s try throwing the ninja star. We need to spend more time on these types of weapons. I am not good at throwing knives, and especially throwing ninja stars. I can’t wait to train with the ninja stars. I am a little concerned about me throwing it and missing the whole target and hitting something else,” I say.

  “Remember you need to wear gloves for now so that you do not get cut and bleed on anything. The gloves are not that thick, but they are very strong and tough, so they will do the job for now. After you get used to handling the ninja stars and the knives, we will take the gloves off and train with them off. You might get so used to the gloves and want to continue to use them. Again our goal is for you not to get cut in any way,” Stella says.

  We walk over to the display with all the knives and the couple ninja stars that were there. One of them is bigger than the other one. I think I want to try the ninja stars first. “I would like to try and use the ninja stars first. I will probably need the most work with them since I have never even picked up one before in my life. They have always looked good, though, on TV and they are badass,” I say.

  “Okay so let’s pick them up and let you hold them and get a feel for them. You will be shooting at the targets that do not move for now. Your goal is the same goal as you had with the crossbow and that is to hit the bull’s-eye. Trevor and Anita Kay, you guys should get behind the wall just in case one of these ninja stars starts flying in your direction. Now Hollis, you want to put it in your hand and when you’re ready you just fling it towards the target. It’s all in the wrist. You know that game with that plastic disc thing?” Stella asks.

  “Do you mean frisbee?” I ask.

  “I guess that’s it. It’s round and flat and you flip it with your wrist when you throw it. You do the same thing with the ninja star. You aim it at your target and then when you go to throw it, you then flip your wrist and throw it. So watch me and then you can see how to throw it. I look at the target and then I judge the distance in my mind and then I flip the ninja star along with actually throwing it at the target. Here goes, you see the ninja star fly across the room and hit the target. You see, it’s that easy to do, you can throw it, but I ask that you again make sure you have the target in your sights,” Stella says.

  I pick up the ninja star and then I feel the weight of it for a few seconds and then I flip my wrist a couple of times like I would do before I throw a frisbee. This ninja star is just a little bit heavier than a frisbee. I look at the target again and then I flip the ninja star towards the target. It hits and lands at the bottom of the target. I hit the wall and not the target. “It’s about time you come back to earth and miss something,” Trevor says.

  “Ha, I told you guys I am not good with weapons. Yes, for some reason I can shoot the crossbow, but when it comes to knives and throwing things, I stink. I also told you guys I would need lots of training using the weapons. So here is why I say that. I will keep trying.”

  “Listen, you throw it straight at the target. Most people when they throw it for the first time, they throw it and it goes sideways, but you know how to throw it. Now when you throw it you just need to throw it with more power and then you will hit the target. So pick up the other one and aim and then throw it at the target,” Stella says.

  I pick up the next ninja star and flip my wrist a few more times with it in my hand. This time I raise up my arm a little since the last time I hit underneath the target. I turn my body sideways and then I turn my shoulders to face the target. I flip the ninja star towards the target and I throw it harder this time. It goes flying across the room and this time I can hear it hit the target. We walk over to the target and man, I am just under the bull’s-eye area. I pull the star out of the target and I reach below the target and pull out the first ninja star.

  “I am going to throw them both again,” I say.

  “Okay, but after those we need to really start throwing the knives, since you will be carrying those in your pockets and you are going to need to be able to use them. The ninja stars you will not be carrying in your pockets. You can’t close them up like a knife and you will stick yourself in your legs. As you know, they have sharp points on them. We most likely will not be using them at all unless for some reason that day you are wearing a jacket. Most likely not, though,” Stella says.

  I say, “Okay I will throw these and see how I do and then we can focus on learning how to throw the knives which I will need lots of training and help with learning how to handle them.”

  I take the ninja stars back to where I stand to throw the other two ninja stars. I get to the spot and then I once again get my body set just right and then I throw the first ninja star and it hits the target, and then I aim again and then throw the second ninja star and it also hits the target. Then we walk over to the target and yes, they both hit into the bull’s-eye.

  “Very good. So far you are a very fast learner. You learned how to throw those ninja stars really fast. The crossbow you just started and it’s like you have been doing it all your life. Now a couple of times with the ninja star and you’re hitting the bull’s-eyes. So let’s see how you do with the knives,” Trevor says.

  “Let’s look at the knives and see which one you want to throw. Remember you want to use the knives that can fit in your pockets. So you can’t have a big knife. Over here in this area there are a few knives that would be perfect for you to carry in your pockets,” Stella says.

  “I see a couple of knives on the table that I think I should try and use. Of course they have some that are really big and won’t fit in my pocket, but I might throw a couple of them just to get used to them. You never know when you might need them,” I say.

  I look over at the knives and I pick a pretty big switchblade - well, I guess that’s what it is. I have seen them on TV and in books: this is the first time I have actually seen a real one, and of course this is the first time I have ever touched one, or even picked one up. I know it has a button on it to make the blade come out. I need to be careful: it will probably pop out fast.

  “Hollis, let me show you how that switchblade works. Once you see it pop out then you will be fine,” Stella says. Then Stella walks over and takes the knife from me and then she hits the button and the blade pops out really fast. Wow, if I had held that blade the wrong way, it would have cut my fingers.

  “Thank you, you have to really watch that blade, or else you will mess around and stab yourself. So I will get ready to throw the switchblade first. I might just be able to carry the switchblade in my pocket since it is not as long when you don’t have the blade popped out,” I say.

  Stella walks away and then I line my body up to the target. I hold the blade part in my hand and then I throw it. Yikes, I threw it and it went flying. It hit into the wall not even close to the target.

  “Listen, knife throwing is all about control. They go the way you throw them. You need to try and aim them. I did not see that you aimed at all. You know how you aimed at the target with the crossbow? Well, you need to do the same thing with the knives. Also, all the knives weigh differently so they will take some getting used to. It takes skill to be able to throw them. Just take your time, and you will get it,” Stella says.

  “Agreed,” says Trevor.

  I pick up the next knife: it is also a switchblade but not as big. I stand back in the spot and I aim, turning my body again towards the target and I put the blade in my hand and throw it. Dang it, again I hit the wall.

  “What am I doing wrong? I am not even close to the target. I keep hitting the wall,” I say.

  “Let me show you. You have to put the blade in your hand and hold your hand out a little and aim the knife at the target and then throw it,” Trevor says.

  He then shows me by going over to the wall and getting the big switchblade knife out of the wall, and then he walks back over to me and he aims and throws the knife. Man, he hits right into the target. I even think he’s hit the bull’s-eye.

  “I am sure I hit the bull’s-eye. You
know how good you are with the crossbow? Well, throwing knives is what I am good at,” Trevor says.

  “Yes, he is one of the best, if not the best, in the village. That’s how good he is,” Stella says.

  Trevor walks over to the target and gets the knife from the target. I also walk with him to look at the target, and before he pulls the knife out of the target, yes, he has hit the bull’s-eye. He was so fast about it when he threw it. It was like he didn’t even think about it. He had just stood there and flipped it really fast at the target and dang, he hit the bull’s-eye. It was probably the first time he threw a knife in a few days. “When was the last time you threw a knife at a target?” I ask.

  “It has been a few weeks now. You have to understand, though, I have been throwing knives at targets for years now. It is something I do. I have won a few dollars from some bets with some people from the village. Now they don’t want to bet me anymore. Not sure why: I only take their money,” Trevor says. Then he laughed. “Okay, let’s try this again.”

  We walk back to the spot where we throw the knives from. “I am going to throw the knives that I will be carrying in my pocket so I can get used to them and be able to throw them as perfectly as Trevor throws them,” I say.

  “I would love the competition, so I say bring it on. I will even help you, but just remember I will always be better than you when it comes to throwing knives,” Trevor says.

  “Good: some competition is always a good thing. It makes one better at what one’s trying to do. The better you are, the better off we are,” Stella says.

  I pick up the knives that I think will best fit in my pocket. I put two knives in each pocket. “I am ready to throw the next knife now. I have four knives to throw at the targets. I know at first they will not be perfect like Trevor’s, but eventually they will. My main goal right now with these four knives is to be able to hit the target,” I say.