NOVEL NEXT Chapter 555: Boys' parties (3)
In the end, Scarlet shared her aunty's opinion on golf. It was boring.
The shining name was a trap, wasn't it? She tried hitting that ball with a small bat she had been given, but every time it would go further or stop before the hole. She also pouted when her daddy succeeded in sending the ball in with a single strike.
«I don't like this, daddy,» she said. «It's boring! Why can't we play at who sends the ball further? Or higher?»
«I would still win, Scarlet.»
«But it would be more fun!»
«The rules are supposed to make the game fun,» Nate said. «Some people like complicated games because the rules make them more interesting. If you're allowed to do whatever you want, then the stronger wins. Or the most ruthless, depending on the game. With rules, everyone is supposed to stand a chance.»
«But it's still boring.»
«What do you think about changing the game, then?»
«Can we do that?»
«Sure! We're here to do funny things, not boring.»
«So, what can we do?»
«There's a shooting ground here. I can teach you how to shoot from a gun.»
Scarlet closed her mouth and looked up at her daddy in silence for quite a while. To Nate, it was obvious she was thinking. It was always funny to see her like that, even though rare. She was considering, weighing her alternatives. He knew she would reach a conclusion no one expects because... Well, because Scarlet was like that.
And he loved that side of her. Being unpredictable could become an advantage, one day.
«Okay, daddy,» she said, then.
He couldn't wait the evening, to tell Lara everything. Their daughter was discovering a whole new world at those boys' parties. He should have come up with the idea way sooner.
Why had he assumed his little girl wouldn't like a gentleman's club? It was obvious that some of those activities were perfect for an energetic kid like her. And, one day, she was going to challenge all those gentlemen in business. Nate knew it: his daughter would have become something special. Maybe not a CEO like him, he couldn't be sure.
But she would have attracted everyone's attention with her aura alone.
«We don't like weapons,» he said. «I mean, we wolves. But humans have developed them continuously during history, so it's easier if we know they exist. Some of these have been invented to defend themselves against us.»
«So weapons are bad.»
«They're neither bad nor good. Just a tool, Scarlet. It's how you use them that makes them bad. It's the hand holding the gun, not the gun itself.»
«And what are we going to do?»
«We'll shoot at a target.»
«Not other people?»
«No, that will never happen. We can't hurt them.»
Scarlet nodded, listening to her daddy's words once again. That place was so silent, and everyone was serious. She wasn't sure how they could call it a party, since no one was laughing. But there were a lot of interesting things.
She liked it, especially because she could do things with her daddy. She didn't need to play alone in the playground.
«I don't want to hurt people, daddy,» she said. «I was just wandering.»
«It's wondering. Oh, I know you didn't mean it like that. You're a good girl, Scarlet.» Explore hidden tales at empire
«Am I?»
«Sure.»
«Even if I cause trouble?»
«As long as you learn from it, it's fine,» Nate said. «You don't need to worry about it and just listen to your daddy. You're still young, so you have time. I will teach you how to make less trouble, okay?»
«Okay!»
Walking away from the golf camp, they reached the shooting grounds. The staff member working there stared wide-eyed, but he delivered a gun to Nate.
«Do you know how to use it, Mr Woods?» he asked.
«I know,» Nate said, collecting a few bullets - all blank bullets, of course - and heading to an isolated station. He didn't want to disturb the other guests, even though the grounds were empty at that time.
He checked the gun was empty before giving it to Scarlet.
«It's heavy, daddy!» she exclaimed in awe. «It's not like Jaden's toy.»
«No, this one is real. It's even heavier with the bullets,» he chuckled. «Come here, let's shoot one bullet.»
He made Scarlet stand on a chair so they could see the target. He loaded one bullet - exactly one because he was a responsible father.
He would never allow Scarlet to play alone, not even keep the gun in her hand while loaded. As she grew up, she might have liked that place and that hobby. He wanted her to understand well enough that weapons were dangerous.
«To shoot, you just pull the trigger,» Nate said. «You point the gun at the target. Only at the target, okay?»
Scarlet nodded. She took the gun in her hands while Nate didn't let go of it. She tried moving it away, but her father didn't allow her. When she accepted that she wouldn't be shooting on her own, she tried pulling the trigger.
«Keep your ears far away, just in case,» Nate said. «Guns are noisy, especially for us.»
She tried pulling the trigger again, but it didn't move.
«Daddy, it's hard!» she complained. «Why?»
«Because this is not a toy. Let me help you now. Maybe next time you will be stronger.»
«How do I get stronger?»
«By eating well,» Nate said. Not that it was an issue, in Scarlet's case.
He put his finger under Scarlet's, not to pinch hers between the metal of the trigger and his own. He pulled lightly when he felt his daughter pushing.
«A little more,» he said, and she pushed harder. Oh, his baby girl had some strength in her hands! It was the first time he noticed, and it made him proud like a peacock. He couldn't wait the evening to tell Lara!
When the trigger was pushed to the end, after much effort from both sides, the bullet slipped out out with a bang.