Page 84 of The Vampire and the Barista

They all turned around, and Spencer grinned at him.

“Thanks, this is fun. Have you seen Jack? He should be having fun as well.”

“Jack is spending quality time with Seth and Gio. I’m sure he’ll be back out playing soon,” he said, not wanting to break Jack’s confidence. He looked at his brother and sister. “Having fun?”

“Yeah, you should try,” Karl said, holding his bow out to him.

Jamie shook his head. “I’ll be rubbish and probably hit someone.”

One of the guards stepped forward. “We can help you. I’m Rickon by the way.”

“Just try it, Jay,” Kitty pleaded.

“Okay, but don’t stand close. Rickon, teach me, oh wise master.”

Everyone laughed at that.

“Step over here.” Jamie walked over to him and stood in front of a spare target. Rickon bent next to a bag beside him and pulled something out. “This is an arm guard. Are you left or right-handed?”

“Right,” Jamie replied.

“Then this guard goes on your left arm,” Rickon handed it to Jamie. It looked like something that was used if you had injured your arm.

Jamie took the arm guard and slipped it on. “Somehow I wasn’t expecting the guard to be made of rubber.”

“We have leather ones, but when learning, these rubber ones are easier to get on and off,” Rickon explained.

“Why do I need an arm guard?”

“Sometimes firing an arrow can go wrong, and the string will catch your arm as it’s loosened, which in turn will badly bruise your arm.”

Jamie nodded in understanding. “Protecting arms is good.”

“It is,” Rickon agreed. He picked up a bow. “This is a basic practice bow; it has a front weight and sight. Don’t worry about the sight for now, we’ll do it with your own eyes.”

Jamie watched as Rickon bent the bow slightly and strung it before holding it out to him. “Take this in your left hand.”

Jamie did.

“Now you want to turn sideways, your left leg in front, feet shoulder length apart, like this.”

Jamie copied him.

“Good. Now, I’ll show you how to draw the string back. I’ll show you first without using the finger guard and then with. So, you want to hold your left arm out and with your right hand, using two fingers, pull the middle of the string towards you, put them on either side of those two black marks, and rest your thumb against the side of your mouth.”

Jamie did as instructed.

“Good,” Rickon said with a nod. “Now make sure your left hand isn’t holding tight to the bow. A loose hold will be fine, you’ll keep it straight and secure by the pulled string. Then you’ll let go and shoot the arrow. Gently release the string now,” Rickon bent down and picked up an arrow. “Again, this is a training arrow. If you find you like archery, we can find you your perfect bow and arrows.” He handed the arrow to Jamie, who took it.

“You’ll notice on the bow, there is a tiny ledge the arrow rests on there, the arrow notch goes between those two black marks. Now hold the bow as before, and when you’re ready, draw the string back, close your right eye and focus on the middle of the target. Breathe in and then let go of the string.”

Jamie took his time, pulling his string back and closing his right eye, looking at the centre, then letting his string go. The arrow hit dead centre.

“I did it,” he exclaimed happily.

“Yay, Jay,” Karl and Kitty cheered.

“Nice, Jamie,” Spencer added.