THE RED HAWK by John Clayton

The Ruger Redhawk is stainless steel;

Weighs 59 ounces, 3.69 pounds empty.

240 grain XTP jacketed hollow points

65 ounces, just over 4 pounds loaded.

6 inch barrel.

Oiled walnut grips.

6 shot, double action, revolver.

Heavy.  The arm swings down

points at the ground.

A gun has no feelings.

It doesn’t want or care about anything.

Feels cold.

Feels cold even on a warm day.

Smooth and shinny.

Heavy!

Makes me feel powerful,  the boy thought.

He says “this is the most powerful handgun in the world.

You gotta ask yourself one question.  Do I feel lucky?

Well, do you punk?”  He grins.

The boy puts the barrel to his nose and sniffs.

Looks at the old man and says,

“is that gun oil or gun powder I smell?”

The old man shakes his head and says,

“Naw.  That son, is the smell of death.”

John Clayton lives in rural Maries County, Missouri with his wife, Dawn, on 56 acres where, with the exception of invasive spices and the garden, nature is left to her own devices. John has been published in Gasconade Review and online in Wine Drunk Sidewalk: Ship Wrecked in Trumpland.