When I was about 11 or 12 my uncle gave me a Stevens single shot bolt action .22 rifle that was my constant companion on all my outings as a youth in the hills of West Virginia. It was the kind that you had to open the bolt, put the round in the chamber, close the bolt, pull back the knob on the back, then fire. It was a slow tedious process when a second shot was needed for squirrels. You better believe I got good with that rifle! I never truly appreciated that rifle then, always thinking the slick Remington Nylon 66 or Marlin Model 60 would have been the better guns with their tube fed, shoot all day supply of ammo. Now looking back I can see how wrong I was.
My mom was scared to death to have a gun in the house (my dad was from Chicago and didn't much care for guns) so it stayed at my uncles house, but I could get it anytime I wanted. Eventually I joined the Marine Corps where I excelled at shooting thanks to that little .22 rifle, and passed it on to my little cousin. He has since given back to his dad and I was told if I ever get back that way I can have it back to give to my son.
What a special present that would make for a young boy, huh?