Slingshot wrong way to get girlfriend's attention

[August 07, 2008]  SOUTH OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- An 11-year-old boy who wanted to get his girlfriend's attention without waking her parents got a lesson in the strength of a window pane. A pebble fired from a slingshot has more velocity than a pebble tossed by hand.

"We were just trying to get her attention," said Joe Brunton, who is now doing odd jobs around his neighborhood to raise the money he needs to replace the window.

Joe and a friend were trying to see the girl early one morning a few weeks ago. At first, they threw wood chips at the window, but that wasn't enough, so the boys went home for heavier artillery. The slingshot worked in getting the girl's attention, but it also cracked the window.

The boys immediately owned up to the broken window and promised the girl's parents that they would replace it.

Joe went to his mother, who covered the $160 replacement cost but said the boy was going to have to do extra chores. Joe's friend Justice Kane decided that was going to take too long, so they have been going door to door and asking neighbors if they need any household chores done.

They also explained why they are raising the money.

"It was kind of embarrassing," Joe said.

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Information from: Standard-Examiner, http://www.standard.net/

[Associated Press]

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