Quinn

"Now, pull the bow string back until you are almost touching your ear," dad said.

I obeyed. I concentrated every inch of my focus on the hand drawn target about ten meters away, but my left arm continued to shake.

"Exhale until your arm is steady." dad instructed.

I tried that, but his advice only worked a little. Losing patience, I released the arrow. In a fraction of a second, the arrow had flown through the air and landed safely in a bale of hay slightly to the left of the target.

I rolled my eyes in frustration.

"Try not to hold the bow string so close to your cheek," he advised. "hold it about the same place near your cheek, but a few inches away from your face. The bow string is brushing your cheek and it's throwing off the arrow's flight pattern. "

I nodded as he handed me another arrow.

I knocked it and drew the bow again, concentrating on keeping the string away from my face.

"Like this?"

Dad nodded.

I held my breath, my left hand still shaking slightly, and shot.

The arrow was on the third circle from the center.

I smiled and turned towards my faithful coach.

"Much better," he smiled. "This time, focus all of your attention on the bullseye. Don't think about anything else. Don't even tell yourself when to fire, just let your hand shoot when it's ready."

I nodded again, knocking another arrow. How was I supposed to hit the bullseye without thinking?

I stared at the target as I pulled back the arrow. I saw nothing but the center of the target and willed the arrow to go there. I repeated the command in my mind a few times before the arrow suddenly flew out of my hands, right into the bullseye.

"That's my girl!" Dad shouted, picking me up in a hug and twirling me around in the air.

"Did you see that Marian?!" he called toward the house.

"I did." Mum smiled as she walked toward us. "She must have inherited her skill from me."

"Let's see it, mum." I grinned, handing the bow to her.

"For old times sake," she said as dad handed her an arrow.

She loaded the arrow and fired so quickly that I would have missed it if I hadn't been paying attention. A tiny splitting sound brought a grin to her face as the tip of the arrow split mine in half.

"Excuse me miss," dad said, walking towards her. "I'm afraid we don't have any prize money for the winner of today's archery contest."

"That's a shame," mum said cooley, "I fancied I might buy a new dress."

"Yes, it is a shame," dad smiled as he brushed a piece of her hair out of her face. "There is another prize, but I'm afraid it can't buy you a dress."

I loved the way my parents smiled when they were flirting. It reminded me of the younger couples in the village.

"Careful sir," mum grinned. "You must know that I'm a married woman."

"Your husband is a lucky man."

"Extremely lucky."

He leaned in and kissed her as though they were closer to my age.