He pulled the trigger.

She groaned as the shot exploded from the barrel. She lurched at him and he would have fallen over if it weren’t for Pa’s strong hand on his back. He watched as Bo crumbled to the ground.

“Did you get ‘em son?”

Duane looked up at Pa and smiled.

“Course Pa!”

A gigantic smile spread over his Pa’s face. It was then replaced with a more serious expression.

“Well you are well on your way to becoming a man son, but we’re not done.”

Duane stroked the warm barrel and a puzzled look came onto his face.

“What is there left to do Pa?”

“You’ll see. Let’s go.”

Pa opened the door and waited for the bewildered Duane to reluctantly place the gun back on the shelf and step out of the shed. Pa locked the shed then took off across the field in great, long strides.

“What are we doin’?” Duane asked as he trotted to keep up with Pa.

“Quit askin’ questions boy. You’ll see when you see.”

Pa reached the picnic table and glanced around the woods. With a satisfied nod he plucked a wrapped up garbage bag that had been stuck to the underside of the table. He quickly bundled up Bo’s body and hauled it over his shoulder.

“Grab the bucket son. Can’t leave any evidence.”

Duane picked up the bucket clumsily as he tried to stay in step with Pa. Water sloshed over the sides and onto to his feet but he paid no matter. They walked in silence until they reached the house. Instead of going through the front, Pa walked to the back where he dropped Bo’s body on the ground and began to clear away a pile of leaves and branches.

“Don’t just stand there lookin’ like a deer in headlights boy.”

Duane quickly began to pluck away the branches and leaves. When they had finished they both stared at the cellar door.

“Son, welcome to phase two of you becoming a man.”

Duane was still uncertain but before he could ask another question Pa opened the cellar door, picked up Bo’s body and climbed down the steps. Duane hurriedly followed and closed the door after him. The cellar plunged into darkness. Duane stumbled his way down the rest of the stairs.

“Pa?”

The cellar abruptly lit up and Duane covered his eyes from the brightness. When he finally uncovered them he gasped. It was as if he were in a scene from a horror film. Tools of every kind littered the walls and the tables that ran along the walls. Hooks hung from the ceiling and there was an operating table in the middle of the room.

“Welcome son.”

Pa ripped open the bag and laid Bo’s body on the operating table. Blood spilled from the single hole onto the floor.

“P-p-“ Duane couldn’t finish his sentence.

Pa grabbed a meat cleaver and was about to strike at the corpse when he looked up a Duane. There was an evil look in Pa’s eyes he had never seen before. Duane couldn’t move.

“Where do you think all of our meat comes from?”