Renegade World: Future Past by GD Patten Read Free Book Online Page B

Rebeka Lee for contests that she won, including several of
the last state fair contests. Erica might have come in as high as third in some
of those contests, and Aaron would have been competitive.
    How strong would I have to be to use their bows?
    You would have to be able to pull 70 pounds. Even then,
I don't think you could use these bows right now because your arms are not long
enough. The draw length of this bow may be adjustable but not enough for you to
use it. Perhaps a smaller bow would work. I will check.
    Aaron and Erica started walking down to the targets. Naami
ran after them.
    “Thank you for being so quiet while we shot,” said Erica.
“Do you have any questions?”
    “When did you start shooting, Erica?”
    “When I was ten.”
    “When did you start shooting, Aaron?”
    “Just last year.”
    “Oh, that explains why Erica's better than you.”
    Erica smirked at Aaron. “Practice all you want, but you’ll
never beat me.”
    Aaron shrugged. “Naami, you might be right, with more
practice, I might beat her.”
    “Well, I'm going to be better than you and Erica… and
better than Rebeka Lee too!”
    Aaron grinned at Erica. “I wouldn’t bet against Naami,
would you?”
    She looked at Naami. “You’re going to have to work really
hard to beat me.”
    “I already know how to work hard. My dad says I’m the
second most obsessive person he knows. When I want something, I don’t give up.”
    Abraham interrupted. There are small children's bows
that pull only ten to fifteen pounds that you could use, but I can't tell from
my scan whether they would be accurate at this distance. I suggest that you ask
Erica what bow she used when she started.
    “Erica, what kind of bow did you use when you started?”
    Erica looked at Aaron. They both guessed where Naami was
headed.  “I had a youth bow that pulled about eighteen pounds.”
    “Do you still have it?”
    “Yes, but even if you were strong enough to pull it, your
arms wouldn't be long enough to draw the string to the correct draw length.”
    “How old would I need to be?”
    “I think it will be at least two years, probably more.”
    They started walking back and Aaron said, “Don't worry;
there are lots things you can do until then. You're starting Tae Kwon Do this
week, right?”
    “Yes. Will you come watch me?” she pleaded to Aaron.
    “If I can. When you know what class, invite me.”
    “OK.”
    Aaron and Erica set up to shoot again, and Naami stepped
back to watch. Abraham, I want to shoot Erica's bow in a year. How can I make
sure that I'm strong enough?
    I will research this.
    Find out the draw length for a bow like Erica’s. I want
to know how much longer my arms need to be. I don’t want to wait a couple of
years.
    She watched them shoot, and a few minutes later Abraham
came back. You will mainly need strong triceps and shoulders. Strong core
muscles are good too.
    Do you know what I would need to do to strengthen those areas?
    You already work your core enough. The hanging leg
raises and bicycle crunches are good for your core. The yoga that you do with
your mom is good too.
    I think that you also work your lats enough by doing all
those pull-ups and kips. The muscle-ups that you started doing after Aaron
showed you are good for the lats, shoulders, and triceps. Walking on your hands
also strengthens your shoulders.
    Isn't there anything new I can do?
    Well, you could borrow some of your mom's bungee cords
and some more of your dad’s dumbbells.
    What would I do with them?
    You could use the dumbbells to do lateral arm raises,
bent over arm raises, and military presses. You could use the bungee cords to do
reverse butterflies and rowing.
    Show me later after I do my other exercises.
    Noted. As far as draw length, there are many youth bows.
Why don’t you find out which bow Erica has, then I can estimate how far you are
from being able to draw it. Your draw will be about your wingspan divided by
two and one-half.
    Aaron had missed