Make Up a Story
Stories from Around the World
Until Then/ Everybody Has to Shoot for Something
It’s a lot of work. Stick it up 10 feet or more above his head. Something pushing at it. He’s a Mexican man trying to shoot the stars. His name is Sky Shooter. It’s in Marigold, Mississippi. It’s 1850 something, you can tell by the rifle he’s shooting. One shot. I’m surprised he doesn’t have a sling shot in his hand. Probably paid $10. He’s joining the group; it’s a shooting group. They are called “Guys Alone Shooting Together.” Other guys are coming. They are gonna watch. Four of them: John, Jim, James, and Henry. They are about 30 years old. They work at night, the grave shift. They watch the stars, they’ve been doing it for twenty years. That’s a long time! Just an instant for a star. It takes a while to learn the stars. He was trying to hit the thing in the air. Way up in the air. We can’t see it, only imagine what it is. It’s the wrong kind of weapon to shoot a bird in the air. His arm’s up as high as he can get them. The gun only comes to his elbow. It goes way past his upper hand. He’s standing directly on the ground. He’s 30. He’s not wearing a sign so don’t pursue it. He pushes it up into the black night. A bird killer. It’s a low and slow bird. They got the nice fresh air. We wouldn’t have bright shadows like that unless there was bright sunshine. You see just a little bit. When are we gonna find out who took the picture. His target is out of view. It’s a hawk hunt. It’s pointing to the sky. The sky was getting tired and didn’t want to take any whiteness up there. As if it were nighttime. Of course he has a family…at least a mother and a father. His dad taught his to shoot. They occasionally watch him shoot. He’s in his sixties and this is just before his friends get there. It is definitely daylight. He’s practicing with his rifle, not shooting. He’s got a friend there taking the picture and he’s showing off. His friend’s name is Jeff. They are old friends, met about 10 years ago hunting rabbits. They caught a few and gave them away. Somebody ate them. That gave them encouragement to hunt some more. I would think that would a double barrel for hawk hunting. He’s trying to focus. What he hunts is on the ground- deer, buffalo. He’s a farmer and is waiting for his friends to come home and hunt with him. They’re going after deer and buffalo, and…Attention! Always looking for the person with the camera. You don’t kill birds with a pistol. You ever hit a bird with a rifle? Why’s he aiming up? The weapon he’s got is for something on the ground. He’s showing off. He’s practicing until they get there- getting ready. He has a boy and girl. They are 9 and 17. They’re called Marge and Clem. He has a wife. You don’t have to have a wife to have kids. It’s economical to have a wife with kids. He’s shooting up in the sky for a reason. Am I crazy or is that a rifle? It’s a 22. Don’t hunters use 22’s? Only if its small targets. He’s gonna go down and take a break and get something to eat. That’s what I would do. It’s been a long day. He’ll eat whatever his wife puts on the table. Chicken, spaghetti and meatballs. He would drink something. He’ll drink some sodas, 7 Up and Ginger ale. He’ll have a big bottle. His wife’s name is Belle. She’s about 34. She’s relatively young. I couldn’t place her. She’s smart and pretty. That’s why she’s hanging around all the time. Both of them are pretty smart. She’s taking a nap. They both want things. In fact they are going out tonight to boogie. I might just come with them. Sometimes people are too shy to go alone. A little boogie, a little jazz, so they can shoot the breeze with each other. What kind of stand are they doing with those horses? I thought it would be helpful to have the horses but it’s a stand alone situation. He didn’t take his own picture. We’re really working into something different and cool. We have common interests.
Created by: Thomas G., Patricia, Juanita, Harold, Inez, Alvin, Rita, Valerie, James S. (Participants at ASEB-Berkeley)
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