The Young and the Stupid

Jelly, Peanut Butter, Milk, Bread, Cheese. These were the things Maddie needed to get at the grocery store. Shayn was at her house, so Maddie thought it would be fine if she left Ainsley and Jake with him. When a parent was around, Shayn was great with the children. Maddie had them down for a nap, and she expected them not to wake up while she was out. It was an easy task. Shayn just had to play video games until his sister returned.

Madeline had been gone for about five minutes when Ainsley crept into the living room. She sat down quietly on the floor next to Shayn, who was playing a snowboarding game. Shayn looked down at her. "Can't sleep?" Ainsley shook her head. Well, if Ainsley was going to be up, Shayn thought that he should play with her instead of his game.

One of Shayn's favorite games to play with his buddies was William Tell. If you are unfamiliar with this game, it goes like this. One person has a crossbow, the other stands a cross the room with an apple on top of his head. Then the one with the crossbow aims, and tries to shoot the apple off of the other persons head. No one had ever missed. Shayn was always the one with the apple on his head. It helped prove that the person could aim. Well Shayn decided that it might be fun to play with Ainsley.

Ainsley had just turned 6. Her brother Jake, who was 11, slept soundly in the other room. "Do you want to play a game?" Shayn asked. Ainsley nodded, and Shayn went to get his crossbow. He also grabbed an apple from the bowl on the kitchen counter. Then he explained the rules to Ainsley.

"I put the apple on my head. You stand here and try to shoot it off. OK?" Shayn said as he lifted Ainsley onto the table. He figured that she had better chances if she was up higher. Again Ainsley nodded. Then Shayn started walking across the room. He turned and realized that Ainsley didn't know how to use a crossbow. She was playing with it, trying to figure it out.

Shayn started to head back to her. "You don't know how to fire one of tho........" An arrow flew past his leg. Maybe she did know what she was doing. Shayn turned to go back to his place. Just as he turned an arrow struck him in the shoulder. "Man, that hurt a lot." Shayn looked at the protruding arrow. "Well, I think that's enough of that game for today."

Ainsley put the bow down, and looked sad. She'd missed, and that made her disappointed in herself. Shayn looked at her and said, "Hey....little one, that was a great try. I'm proud of you. If you'd been just a little bit taller, that would've hit the apple." Ainsley looked up at him and smiled. Shayn winced in pain, "Ainsley....can you get the phone for me please?"

At that moment Ainsley knew that Shayn needed more than the phone, and her brother would know what to do. She ran into the other room, and brought Jake back with her. Jake took one look at his uncle. "I'm calling mom. You stay there, and stop playing with the arrow." Shayn was proud of his nephew. He came in and took charge. It felt strange to have an arrow sticking out of one's shoulder, but Shayn stopped playing with it.

Jake went into the other room and called his mom. Then he came back with a first-aid kit. "Shall I give you stitches or butterflies?"Jake asked. Shayn answered, "Have you given anyone stitches before?" Ainsley peeped in, "He's stitched up rabbits before." Shayn was astonished, "Real ones?" Jake nodded.

Shayn thought carefully about his answer. He really wanted to see his nephew's ability to sew up a wound, but he was already in enough trouble with Madeline. "Umm....I think just butterfly's would be good for now, but when I go to the hospital to have the doctor stitch me up I'll let you watch. OK?" Jake found this answer to be acceptable. With his question answered he commenced to apply pressure, clean up the wound as much as possible, and find a paper cup to hold the arrow in place. Then he taped the cup over the arrow. He stepped back and looked at his work, satisfied for now.

With that completed Maddie rushed into the house. "Ainsley, Jake, Shayn? Where are you? Are you alright?" Ainsley responded, "Here mommy....Jake gave Shayn stitches, and I fired a crossbow. I love Uncle Shayn. He's the bestest. Can he watch us everytime?" Madeline ran into the living room where she saw a shirtless Shayn sitting on the floor with a cup over an arrow. Jake was standing near the shoulder making sure it was OK. "Alright....everyone in the car! NOW!!!"

Madeline took Shayn to the hospital. Jake got to watch the doctors stitch up the wound. Maddie paced, and yelled at Shayn the whole time. Ainsley just sat quietly and smiled. It had been a great day for her. As far as she was concerned this Uncle was the best. None of her other uncles would let her play with crossbows. She would remember it forever as the day her Uncle Shayn taught her how to aim.