A Fireworks Display most grand

A Fireworks Display most grand


The crowd first oohed, then aahed as each projectile reached high above the horizon, bursting into multi-colored streamers of light before shimmering and popping back to the earth below.  Again and again the rockets went up, brilliant flashes closely followed by explosions that seemed to be felt as much as heard.  Whirling, whistling, sparkling colors rained down, leaving trails of zigzagging smoke visible in the strobing lights.

Pete and Marla sat on the blanket spread on a grassy knoll.  Eight year old Petey sat between them while fourteen year old Holly stood, her hands firmly planted on her thin hips.  The lull in the activities indicated that the show was nearly over.

Pete turned to Marla.  “Great show, huh?”

Marla grumbled, “Hurts my ears.  If we leave now, we can beat the traffic.”

“And miss the finale?  You like fireworks, don’t you Hol?”

Holly slumped her shoulders forward, lowered her chin, arched her eyebrows and said, “Whatever.”

“You like ‘em, don’t you Petey?”

“Sure Dad, way awesome.”

“You see—Petey likes ‘em.”

“Well,” Marla began.  “Next year I’m staying home.  You and the kids can come and have your ears blasted.  Bugs are eating me up.”

Holly said, “I’m, with you, mom.”

Pete just stared at his female family members.  “Well, me and Petey like ‘em, don’t we Petey?”

“You bet, Dad!”

The lull stretched on for a minute or more.  The crowd was beginning to get restless.

Pete said, “It won’t be long now.  Godfrey got the contract again this year.  He always has the best finale.”

“Get ready, Petey.  Watch right up there,” he said as he pointed high into the darkened void.

“There’s nothing there,” Petey replied while trying to sight along his father’s extended finger.

“Just a minute, watch.  Marla, you might want to cover your ears…you too Sissy.  Godfrey always starts the grand finale with a big bang.”

Holly said, “Pal-ease, you’re so lame.”

Marla stuck her fingers in her ears.

Petey kept watch.

Then, barely visible, a final rocket leapt into the void.  It climbed higher, much higher than any before, then seemed to come to a stop, hovering high over the horizon.  Suddenly, a flash of light burst from that one tiny point and spread out to encompass the sky, shortly followed by an explosion, diminishing all those blasts before it.

The light quickly faded to reveal spinning pinwheels of burning embers, circling, extinguishing, replaced by new, glowing sparks, swirling in a wild dance across the previously starless sky.

Mesmerized, the crowd watched as the fiery pinwheels slowly coalesced, compacted into dim glowing ghosts of their former glory, then even more slowly, though gaining speed, returned to the point of their origin.  Then, it was over.  The sky showed not the slightest hint of the spectacular display only moments before.  The crowd let out a collective “Aaah.”

Pete looked, first at Marla, then Holly.  Both had big smiles on their faces.

“Pretty good, huh Hol?”

The smile quickly disappeared as Holly said, “Whatever.”

“Marla?”

“Yeah, I guess it was worth it.  My ears hurt.  Can we go home now?”

“Dad, that was super cool,” Petey said.

Pete said, “Yeah, I thought it was super cool too.”

*

The old man unfolded his lawn chair.  He sat down next to the old panel truck that had served him so well.  Five days on the road had taken its toll; he wasn’t as young as he once was.  His only son, and now partner, Jess, was gathering up their equipment.  Godfrey lit a cigar and reflected on tonight’s show.  They had done well, just him and the boy making their way—Godfrey and Son, Pyrotechnics.  He had been in the business forever.  He thought it sure was good having someone helping him now.  Jess was a good boy.

“Hey Pop, good show, wasn’t it?”

“Yep, we did okay.”

“Ah, come on, Pop.  You know you’re the best in the business.  I don’t know how you do it.”

Godfrey took a couple puffs on his cigar, “It’s all in how you pack it in.  It’s a secret.  You just gotta know how to pack it in.”

“Well, it’s a mystery to me, Pop.  Maybe some day you’ll teach me how.”

“Heh, heh, yep, I guess I got some mysterious ways, but that’s how you stay on top in this business.  I been doin’ this from the very beginning.  I’m figurin’ on doin’ it at the very end.  Wouldn’t hardly do to let everybody in on your secrets, now would it, boy?”

“Alpha and Omega, huh Pop?”

“Heh, heh, I guess so.  That’s pretty good, Jess.  Maybe we oughta paint that on the side of the truck.”

Godfrey, still enjoying the moment, puffed on his cigar.  “Better get the truck loaded up Jess, we gotta be in Nevaeh by tomorrow afternoon.  That’ll be our last show of the season.  After that, it’ll be good to rest up for a bit.”