CHAPTER 1
Amy
“And now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for,” my dad says.
He picks up the drone controller that he drove all the way to the state line to buy. He took my brother last week and they came back with a truckload of fireworks, but this was the “big bang bonanza,” he had been telling everyone about all week.
The only moment I was waiting for now was for this night to end.
I love fireworks, apple pie, and the 4th of July as much as the next person, but today has dragged on way too long. My dad’s friends were drunk, my mom was a nervous wreck from entertaining so many people all day, and my brother’s energy level through it all never ceased to take a break. Sugary snacks and soda kept him hyper all day and it was driving me crazy.
I just wanted to go back inside and cuddle up with a good book, or maybe catch up on a few episodes of my favorite TV shows, knowing all too well I’d be sawing logs the minute I pressed play.
But I put on a happy face, knowing the end was near. Once this final firework did its thing, the guests would start to clear out so I could pass out. Washing all the dirty dishes with my mom would have to wait until morning.
But this was no ordinary fireworks finale. My dad said the creepy fireworks guy he had bought this thing off of described it as the “Throttler 3000.” It was “guaranteed to put your 4th of July celebration in overdrive.”
Just what I need right now.
And to make matters worse this thing came with a controller. It was some “revolutionary” type of firework that you could power like a drone. What ever happened to just shooting them in the sky and watching the pretty colors pop? Testosterone…that’s what happened.
“Stand back, son. You read the instructions. This can only be operated by a professional.”
“You’re not a professional, dad.”
“But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.”
The two of them laugh and I bury my head in my knees as I start to feel the dew forming on the grass and soaking its way through my jeans.
“Maybe we should all step inside and watch this through the patio glass,” my mom offers.
“Nonsense. I’ve got this under control. Plus you’ll want to remember this moment. You’ve all got a front row seat to the future of how 4th of July fireworks demonstrations will be.”
“Yeah!” my brother says as he pumps his fist.
“Okay. Three…two…one!” my dad says, pushing a button on his controller.
Nothing.
“It’s a dud!” one of my dad’s friends yells.
“The future, huh?” another adds.
They can’t wait to tease him.
But then a spark appears at the base of the firework. Then another. My dad pulls back on the joystick and it begins hovering just off the ground.
Maybe this isn’t so bad after all. It’s kind of cool actually.
My dad focuses on the screen in front of him, his tongue out like Michael Jordan, as he guides the firework up into the sky.
I have to admit, it’s pretty impressive. I’m even kind of proud of my dad. He acts like a kid a lot of the time, but his intentions are good. And it looks like he might just deliver one heck of a “big bang bonanza” just like he promised.
“Ready everyone?” my dad asks, once the firework is safely overhead.
“Ready!” we reply, nearly in perfect unison.
“Three…”
He just can’t get enough of this counting down thing.
“Two…one!”
He presses a different button and the firework starts spinning in a circle like some sort of flying saucer. From the top a red flame shoots up toward the sky, followed by a loud crack, and those little lights that look like the tips of a weeping willow cascade everywhere. It’s beautiful. I even catch myself nodding in approval.
“Nice job, dad,” I say.
“Thanks, but that’s just the beginning. You ain’t seen nothin' yet.”
He presses another button and suddenly the firework starts smoking.
What in the heck is this supposed to be? I watch as the smoke cloud grows bigger. This doesn’t look right.
Out of nowhere the firework starts shooting sparks and beelines it right toward the house.
“Run!” my mom says, as way too many guests rush for patio door at once.
“Oh my gosh!” I say, deciding the only safe option is to high tail it towards the forest.
Two of my dad’s friend’s bolt toward the swimming pool, pulling at the bottom of their shirts as they’re airborne, just before they come down with a big splash.
It’s pure mayhem!
I hear tires squeal and look back over my shoulder. My dad’s friend Jerry is burning rubber in the driveway as he peels out making a quick getaway. I guess he’s not as dumb as he looks. Thank god he was one of the few people who wasn’t drinking today.
I duck behind a tree and see the firework bounce off the top of our house before circling the neighbor’s house and then coming back towards our tree line. It gets tangled in the treetop, and suddenly there’s a big explosion.
And of course it’s been the driest fifty years on record in Southern California, and somehow we missed the dramatic recovery the news pundits like to talk about. The tree catches fire immediately. And then it spreads from tree to tree to tree.
It’s coming right my way.
I take off running back towards the house, as I hear the fire engine sirens off in the distance.
“Help!”