Sally Fourth

"I won't flinch!" Bernardina swore for the sixteenth time, frantically surveying her surroundings.

The roar of an exuberant crowd. Folks gazing skywards, pointing at each colorful, whistling bright streak foreshadowing the noise of thunder.

To everyone else- a fireworks display. To Bernardina- Armageddon, for Jeremy was missing.

She plowed through bystanders. She screamed repeatedly, to no avail.

The weekend of The Fourth had seemed a perfect opportunity to step back from her menial job and spend time with her child, taking in the spectacle of a carefree celebration.

Her breaths came in spurts and sobs. A jostle here, a shove there- trying to get clear for a glance about.

The only good thing produced by her and Sam's union was Jeremy. Where was he?

When Sam and she parted, her lawyer had taken Bernardina aside to confide she had a bad feeling about the retreating ex. Since, Bernardina spotted Sam on several occasions, spying on their son.

On the fateful night, she turned her back for a mere moment, just enough to grasp hold of a cotton candy stick and pay... that's all it took for Jeremy to vanish.

Then, by the gaudy flash of exploding combustibles, she discerned HIS menacing countenance.

She finally navigated the mob's edge, where a man grasping a small child by the hand headed towards a parked car. Nearby were two guffawing policemen.

Her plan called for a desperate grab at Jeremy, as her ex released him briefly to fumble for his keys, while shrieking her guts for the cops' attention.

Hurray, flawlessly executed, because tonight no salute shells sounded to cap off the gaiety, that would cause her to freeze at the crucial moment, long enough for car and boy to flee. Like they sounded sixteen years ago, the final time she saw Jeremy.