Chapter 33: Ready

Gun control in California is very strict. Arthur needed to go through some procedures to buy a gun.

He already got his Firearms Safety Certificate (FSC), which he could take at the gun store and shooting club where he practiced shooting.

The FSC exam mainly tests the knowledge of safe gun use, with ten true/false questions and twenty multiple-choice questions, totaling thirty questions. Passing requires getting at least twenty-three correct answers, but Arthur got all thirty correct.

Then Arthur also got a hunting license. He took a ten-hour course at the gun store and then passed the exam. You need to get eighty out of a hundred questions right, and he got a perfect score.

Now Arthur can legally purchase firearms. He can buy rifles, shotguns, and even handguns at any store, but he can't carry them around; they need to be unloaded and stored in the car's trunk when out.

The concealed carry permit that Frank and John kept talking about is a concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit, which allows carrying a handgun in public.

In California, it's very difficult to get a CCW permit, but some legal jobs make it easier to apply for one. So Arthur had very convenient conditions to apply for a CCW permit because he was an employee of King Defense, a legal job. As long as he had a work permit, he would pass.

Arthur had completed several prerequisites for the CCW permit. He took an eight-hour course at a California-certified gun store, passed the exam, passed the live-fire shooting assessment, got the coach's certification, and got the coach's certification signature.

Now, Arthur just needed to submit his information to the police.

After Arthur submitted the documents, the black female police officer in charge of collecting the materials widened her eyes and said, "Otto Schmidt, your name is Otto Schmidt?"

Arthur nodded expressionlessly and replied listlessly, "Yes, my name is Otto Schmidt."

The female officer carefully examined Arthur, then shrugged and said loudly, "Fingerprint, photo, after passing the federal background check, you're good to go, next!"

Arthur took the photo and fingerprint like a wooden man. Next was waiting for the FBI's background check.

The background check would be fine; his background was very clean. After 120 days, he would be able to get the CCW permit and carry a gun with him.

But Arthur no longer felt any excitement; he only felt deep fatigue and helplessness.

He walked mechanically to John's car, pulled open the passenger door, stared at John sitting in the passenger seat for a moment, then closed the door.

He had forgotten that he already had a driver's license.

He went to the driver's seat, opened the door, sat in, awkwardly wiggled his butt a few times, then put on the seatbelt and started the car with a serious expression.

John sighed, shaking his head. "I've never seen anyone so nervous gripping the steering wheel. I want to know what you're afraid of?"

"John, I just got my driver's license."

"I was driving before I got my driver's license."

Ignoring John, Arthur slowly drove out of the parking lot. After a few impatient honks from the cars behind him, he insisted on driving at a speed he could accept on the main road.

John simply closed his eyes, feeling helpless. "Buddy, you have a driver's license now. Drive faster; no one will die. This is my car, and I'm not afraid. What are you afraid of?"

"Safety first."

In ten days, Arthur went from someone who had never touched a car to getting a driver's license. For his safety and the safety of others, he thought it was better to drive slower.

A pickup truck quickly passed Arthur on the left, then the window rolled down, and the person inside angrily yelled a few words at Arthur before speeding away.

Arthur remained unfazed, driving at a strict thirty miles per hour, which was close to fifty kilometers per hour. He felt it was quite fast.

Arthur felt that everything had been happening quickly in these ten days. He got his driver's license, bought a new phone, got a phone card, got a bank card, and there were still over ten thousand dollars in his bank account. He also got vaccinated for malaria and yellow fever, and today he got his CCW permit.

Overall, Arthur had more documents in these ten days than he had in the past ten years.

"After we come back from Colombia, you should quickly buy a car. I don’t want you to drive my car anymore, let alone ride in a car you drive."

John changed his position, looking extremely disappointed. "Riding in your car will take ten years off my life. My patience has been worn out in your car. If your driving skills improve as fast as everything else, I would be very grateful."

It was a mockery. Arthur resolutely ignored him.

He patiently returned to the company. John, like a bird freed from its cage, quickly returned to his place and drove off in a hurry.

Arthur returned to his office at the company, and as he passed by Frank's office, Frank called him in.

"Where's John?"

"He ran away."

"What do you mean, 'ran away'?"

Arthur shrugged. "Teaching me to drive was torture for him, so he ran away."

"We're all set. We're leaving for Colombia tomorrow. Are your items ready? Appropriate clothes and shoes? We're going to the rainforest, and what you're wearing now is not suitable."

"Um... what clothes do I need to buy? Is it still time to buy them?"

Frank scratched his head, then picked up the phone on his desk. After a moment, he said into the phone, "John, come back here for a moment."

After a few minutes, John returned, looking dejected. Frank calmly said, "We're flying to Colombia tomorrow morning. The tickets are booked."

John's face lit up, and then he sighed, "Great, my nanny career can finally end."

"But Hao still doesn't have suitable clothes for the rainforest. Take him to buy some."

Joy froze on John's face, but he quickly nodded. "Okay, I'll take him. We're leaving tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, the plane is at 10:20 tomorrow morning, first to Bogotá, then to Medellín. Any other questions?"

"No questions, I'm just happy not to be a nanny anymore. Also, I'm excited!"

John seemed very excited. He nodded to Arthur and said, "Hurry up, don't dawdle. I'll drive this time and let you experience what speed and passion are."

There was nothing more to say. The things that needed to be bought had to be prepared. But as Arthur followed John out of the office, Frank's voice came from behind him, "Goodbye, Mr. Schmidt."