Music For the Royal Fireworks

by Jeff Baker

“Pwhew! How hot is it, anyway?” Charlie asked, looking up at the inside of the tent.

“Somewhere in the nineties,” Anthony said, wiping his forehead with the apron his Grandmother had him wear.

“Perfect weather to be out on an asphalt parking lot in a tent full of explosives.” Charlie said.

“Tell me about it.” Anthony said.

Anthony Aquila and Charlie Ford were going to be Juniors in High School that fall.

“Month and a half ‘till school starts up,” Charlie said.

“Presumably it’ll be cooler in September.” Anthony said.

“Yeah, but school starts in August. And you never know about the weather in Kansas.” Charlie said.

Anthony’s family had been selling fireworks in summer for decades. As soon as he was old enough Anthony was put to work in the tent they had in the big parking lot of the grocery store.

“So, what do you have for sale?” Charlie asked. “I mean, that I can afford.”

“Uhhhh…snakes? Smoke bombs? Sparklers?” Anthony ticked off the items on his fingers.

“Hey, remember a few years back when we set off snakes on the sidewalk?” Charlie said.

“Yeah, there’s still black burn spots on the pavement in front of the house.” Anthony said laughing.

“Snakes, then. Definitely.” Charlie said.

“Coming right up,” Anthony said as Charlie selected a little plastic bag with the black pellets and a label with a black snake complete with fangs and yellow eyes.

Anthony punched up the numbers on the register as Charlie handed over his cash.

“And here’s to the Summer of Nineteen-Eighty-Six and the Class Of Eighty-Seven.” Charlie said.

“Yeah,” Anthony said. It was July first. Time was moving by.

—-end—