ORIGINAL: KS227

Before we moved rural, we lived in a small Catholic town. The church was at the end of our street. I used to practice in the alley behind our house; "sort of" in the direction of the church. It was right after Thanksgiving and I was going back out after rifle season was over.....nice and cold. So I was practicing in my parka for realistic effect.
I had a bag target with 3 square bales behind it for safety. Police chief had seen it and said no big deal. No problems all year.
The first shot was akward, the 12th shot was rough. The 13th shot, I must have relaxed enough that I accidentally let down the draw. With my glove I punched my release. I had no idea if it went high, right, left or what. It sure wasn't in the target or bales, though. I walked around for 10 or 15 minutes and didn't find the arrow.....oh well. No harm.
Two days later as we were filing into church, I was holding the door for a group of people and my wife went in last. As she did, she glanced around my shoulder and had a look of shock on her face. I turned around and was mortified to see my arrow sticking in Joseph's head in the plastic life sized nativity on the church lawn. Bad memories, man.