With July 4th just days away, it was time to start ‘Operation Firecracker’. The key to the operation is to keep it secret, Dad must never know. When it comes to obtaining fireworks, he always says the same thing, “No, someone will get hurt. We’ll let the professionals do it and watch the display at the park.”

Not this year. Johnny and Frank know some people who can get some of the real cool stuff, not just firecrackers. And it will only cost $100. I managed to get the money out of the bank without Mom and Dad knowing. I met Johnny at the Mall.

“Frank’s family is going camping on the 4th, so he isn’t participating. But let’s see what we can get with what we have,” he said.

We were able to buy one firework that shoots into the air. We were excited as the man drove away. “Let’s shoot it off now.” Johnny said excitedly.

We set the thing up and Johnny lit the fuse with a match he snuck out of his house. The fuse burnt down and nothing happened. Johnny went over and looked into the tube. The Doctor said he was lucky just to lose an eye.

© 2009 Kenneth Collins. Original for CCF. Collins grants CCF first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology.