The next two weeks flew by.
Adam, Juno, and Karen spent their days surrounded by the sounds of gunfire.
From handguns to rifles, from stationary targets to moving ones, from close-range solo shooting to long-range team combat—their shooting accuracy and speed improved rapidly.
To Old Mike, Adam was clearly just there to show off. His shooting skills were on another level—so much so that even Old Mike himself couldn't compare.
Eventually, Old Mike stopped paying much attention to Adam and focused on training Juno and Karen instead.
Juno and Karen's progress followed the natural trajectory of talented beginners. With an ample supply of bullets funded by deep pockets, they improved at an astonishing rate.
Once again, this proved a well-known American truth: money makes you stronger!
Adam, of course, had no shortage of funds.
Karen, who could afford to attend a community college in Boston just to be a study companion, clearly wasn't lacking money either.
Compared to them, Juno had slightly less financial freedom, but affording shooting practice wasn't an issue.
Since none of them were 21 yet, they couldn't legally purchase handguns. And since they hadn't bought a cabin in the woods yet, they didn't rush to apply for gun permits or buy firearms.
December 22
Two days before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The Duncan family was preparing for a full-family trip the next day. They would be flying to Palm Springs to spend Christmas with Adam's grandparents.
**"Charlie, did you know? Tomorrow will be your first time on a plane and your first Christmas at Grandma's house! You're going to have so much fun!"**
Teddy, the second-oldest sibling, was—as always—filming a video diary for his little sister, Charlie.
**"No, no, no!"**
Their mom, Amy, appeared in the frame while on a call with her mother. **"Mom, you need to childproof the house. All fragile items need to be placed at least three feet off the ground—"**
*CRASH!*
Amy and Teddy turned toward the noise. A vase lay shattered at Charlie's feet.
**"Uh-oh."**
Realizing she was in trouble, Charlie turned and bolted on her tiny legs.
**"Make that four feet!"** Amy groaned, hanging up the phone. Then she turned toward Charlie and scolded, **"No, no! Don't come over here! There are shards all over the floor!"**
After cleaning up the mess, Amy sat Charlie in a special chair and made her stay there as punishment.
Charlie looked at Adam with pleading eyes.
**"Don't look at me,"** Adam chuckled, shrugging. **"You broke the vase."**
Charlie huffed and turned away, sulking.
Adam just smiled.
Charlie was at that mischievous, destructive age. Letting her get away with everything wasn't an option.
Actions had consequences. That's how kids learned.
"Honey, Look What I Found!"
Their dad, Bob, walked in excitedly, pushing a stroller. **"Guess what? I got this for just 30 bucks!"**
**"A stroller?"**
Amy looked unimpressed. How was this a big deal?
**"Yep! And it's not just any stroller,"** Bob explained enthusiastically. **"It folds up so it can be used as a car seat and even on planes. Watch this—I just push this button, and the handle retracts automatically!"**
He pressed the button. Nothing happened.
Amy immediately crossed her arms and shot him a glare.
**"Well… theoretically, that's how it works,"** Bob muttered. Under his wife's piercing stare, he desperately fiddled with the stroller, trying to make it work.
But like many bargain purchases that sounded amazing in the ad, this one turned out to be a dud.
"Where's Gabe?"
Amy took a deep breath, trying to suppress her frustration. She glanced around, realizing their third son was nowhere in sight.
**"Where's Gabe?"** she asked.
**"Where do you think?"** Adam smirked and gestured upstairs.
**"Gabe!"**
Amy stormed upstairs and threw open her son's bedroom door. Sure enough, Gabe was completely immersed in his video game, oblivious to her presence.
**"We're leaving early tomorrow. Have you packed?"**
Amy stepped right in front of the TV, arms crossed.
**"Yeah, yeah, it's done,"** Gabe replied, trying to sidestep her and keep playing.
Amy blocked him at every turn. Finally, realizing he had no choice, Gabe put down the controller with an awkward smile.
**"Where's your stuff?"**
Amy wasn't buying it.
**"Right here!"** Gabe proudly pointed to his newest gaming console.
**"No video games at Grandma's house."**
Amy's voice was firm.
**"What?! No way!"** Gabe whined. **"Christmas is going to be so boring!"**
Then, he gave her a hopeful look. **"How about this—you guys go, and I'll stay home?"**
As far as he was concerned, home was where the gaming console was.
**"Not happening."**
Amy shut that down immediately. **"And if you don't have your suitcase packed when I check again, I'm confiscating your console for a month."**
**"That's not fair!"** Gabe protested.
**"Two months."**
Amy raised two fingers with a cold smile.
**"I'm packing now!"** Gabe surrendered instantly.
Downstairs
**"Mom's acting kinda weird, don't you think?"** Teddy pointed upstairs as Amy's angry voice echoed down the hallway.
**"Hormones,"** Adam replied casually. **"So whatever you do, don't piss her off."**
Bob, still wrestling with the stroller, looked up and added, **"Adam's right. Or you'll regret it."**
**"And whose fault is that?"** Teddy shot him a disdainful look. **"I warned you four years ago!"**
Bob coughed awkwardly and had no comeback.
Amy did a final inspection of the house. Seeing that everyone was sufficiently intimidated into obedience, she finally nodded in satisfaction.
The Next Morning
Before sunrise, Gabe snuck into Adam's room with a sneaky plan.
He taped his game controller to Adam's chest, thinking he could smuggle it past security without anyone noticing.
His dedication to gaming knew no bounds.
Maybe PJ (Adam's former self) would've fallen for it, but the new Adam? Not a chance.
Adam booted Gabe out of the room with a well-placed kick and immediately ratted him out to Amy. She confiscated his console on the spot.
There was no way Adam was risking an unnecessary security hassle. If they got caught, they'd be subjected to the most thorough TSA screening imaginable.
That was *not* an experience he wanted.
Off to the Airport
Once everyone was packed and ready, the Duncan family headed to the airport.
With so many people, one car wasn't enough. Adam asked Juno and Karen to help drive, so they could bring the cars back after dropping everyone off.
At the Airport
After Gabe's failed smuggling attempt, the family still had some minor chaos, but they managed to get through security and board the plane without issue.
Adam, Teddy, and Gabe sat together in one row.
Bob and Amy sat in front of them, with little Charlie squeezed between them.
Just as Adam let out a sigh of relief, thinking everything was finally going smoothly…
Something unexpected happened.
*(End of Chapter)*