The Broken Rifle
Copyright© 2024 by Old Man with a Pen
Chapter 5
Now I have money ... well ... I had some money in the first place ... I have more. Then there’s the rest of the coins in the drawstring pouch... $122.50 minus two 2.50 dollar coins leaves me with $117.50 face value and who knows how much in collector value. Marion ... the librarian wouldn’t let me check out the magazine Coins and Their Values.
“Library copy ... not for circulation,” she said. And then she asked, “Why?”
There are times I have problems keeping my poop in a scoop ... but I’m not dumb enough to say, “I have more.”
Nope ... the second person Marion called was a cop. I wasn’t going to mention that I had more ... not at all.
“Interesting magazine. But I have enough to read, what with The Buckskin Report, Muzzle Blasts and Foxfire.”
“Foxfire I know ... what are the other two?”
“Muzzle Blasts is the Original Muzzle Loading, Traditional craft, and Living History Magazine, and the official publication of The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. The Report is a self publication of one John Baird. He published the dirt that goes on at the shoots.”
“Oh ... black powder ... stinky smelly dirty guns.”
“Ayup,” I said. Marion is ‘nice looking’ and I had a thought of ‘Maybe.’ But ... no.
“Daddy used to take me shooting. It was fun but he died.”
‘Fun? Hmm. Possible. Hmm?’
“Care to go? Shoot this weekend.”
“Are you asking me to go cavorting with you this weekend?”
“Only as much cavorting as you are comfortable with.”
She gave me a considering look. (Considering involves clasping the waist with one hand and arm, resting the elbow of other arm on the waist arm, cupping the chin with the elevated palm and tapping the nose with one finger.) That considering look changed to memories. It faded into wistful ... then to thinking.
A direct nod ... decision...”I don’t on a first date.”
“Me neither.”
She laughed out loud, “Oh ... You do too. You’re a guy ... guys are all alike. One track mind.” That was said with pointy finger gestures and chuckling.
“What makes you think that?”
“I, sir, have a degree in Library Science.”
That took a few seconds. People with degrees went to college.
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