A Firework and a Boy

The lively streets of Naklon City were warmed by the early afternoon sun. People were making their way in and out of buildings. Kids dragged their parents to ice cream stands. Cars were wary of any bystanders as they drove up and down the streets. Police officers made their day time rounds. You never know when an evil demon will decide to make an assault.

But today was a peaceful day. Jim Crenal was browsing through the local fireworks store. Normally he goes to a store that sells bombs and other dangerous explosives but today he wanted an explosive that has bright colors. Maybe he could get inspiration from these fireworks to add vibrant colors to his bombs. The spikey blond teen picked up a red and blue rocket and studied it. He ran his hand along the sides, smooth as polish steel and cool. He held it close to his nose and sniffed it. Yes, filled with quality powder. He stared at it for a few more seconds then started to…gnaw on it… For what reason no one will ever know. He smiled and lifted the rocket high above his head.

"I've found the perfect rocket!" He cheered. He turned it over in his hands and came across a little colorful sticker. He read it aloud:
"'The Detonator'. 'Warning: Extremely dangerous, keep out of reach of children.'"

Jim smiled and hugged his new rocket before bringing it up to the front to pay for it. The cashier took it and scanned the bar code.

"That'll be fifty dollars." The cashier said.

"Ok, Mr. Cashier person man! You got it!" Jim said, putting his hand into his pocket and taking out his wallet.

The cashier sighed. "Once again Jim, my name is Dave." He said, pointing to his name tag. Jim obviously was a frequent costumer since Dave knows his name.

"But I like Mr. Cashier person man better." Jim said handing him the money.

Dave took the money and put the rocket in a plastic bag and gave it to Jim.

"Keep the change." Jim said with a smile before he walked to the doors.

"Does your brother know about this?" Dave said, looking at the rocket.

Jim paused, his hand touching the door. He quickly turned around on one heel to face him. "Of course!" He said with a smile. "Why wouldn't I tell Robert about it?" He asked before he sped out the door.

As Jim was walking up the street to his house he thought about how he should hide it from his brother before he gets to his little shed.
"Hmm…Oh! I got it!"

Robert was cleaning his katana and throwing knives in the garage when he heard Jim walking past. The blue haired teen turned to his brother.

“Oh Jim, did you get—” He cut himself off when he caught sight of the bulging lump in his brother’s shirt. “…That doesn’t look like milk.” Robert said, very un-amused.

“Oops, sorry brother, I guess I forgot.” Jim said smiling and rubbed the back of his head all innocent like.

Robert crossed his arms. “What’s in your shirt?” He asked in a stern tone.

Jim looked at the bulge then at Robert. “Candy.”

“Candy?”

Jim nodded his head. “Candy.”

“So instead of calling me to get a reminder you decided to get candy?”

“That’s right!”

“...Why do I have the feeling you’re lying?”

“I’m not lying! Honest!”

“Hmm…”

“I promise I’ll go back to get the milk after I put my candy away.”
Robert sighed then returned his attention to his sword and knives. “Fine.”

“And I WOULD be back sooner but SOMEONE won’t let me take their car.” Jim said, walking away.
“Jim, you’re a horrible driver. The last time I let you drive you drove the car right into a ditch.”

“I saw a shiny quarter in it. So sue me.”

Jim ran to his shed behind the house and locked the door tight behind him. He pulled out his rocket out of his shirt and set it on the table. He smiled an excited smile as he stared at it. He set it upright so the pointed part was facing the ceiling, opened a drawer, took out a few matches and lit one.

“This is going to be so awesome!” He said as he lit the fuse. He ducked behind a crate and poked his head out from the side and waited for his new “toy” to blast off.

“Hmm...Maybe I should have put it outside…” He said to himself.

The rocket shot up and exploded into bright rainbow colored shapes of all sizes. The blast was so powerful that it sent the roof flying off the walls and into the clouds. The walls fell to reveal a now soot covered Jim sitting behind the remains of his crate.

Jim, wide eyed, blinked. He smiled wide and jumped to his feet. “That was totally awesome!” He shouted, unaware of the sirens in the distance.

“Jim! What did you do?!” Robert demanded, running towards him. “You bought a rocket didn’t you?! Why didn’t I see this coming?!”

“Did you see that explosion?! It was so pretty and huge!” Jim said.

Robert glared at Jim, his eyebrow twitching from irritation.

“Oh…you’re mad at me aren’t you?”

“Look around you! The shed is destroyed, the house is covered in black soot, and there are fires everywhere!”

Jim looked around. “Oh, yeah, would you look at that.” He said as if this didn’t surprise him.

Robert slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand and slid it slowly down his face. “And now we’re getting another visit from the fire department…my brother is a moron…”

Just then the roof that belonged to the shattered shed came crashing down on Robert’s car and reduced it to a pancake.

Robert’s mouth hanged open and his hands shook slightly as he stared at the poor remains of his car. “My…my car!”

Jim clapped his hands. “Yay! That was so cool! Do it again!”

Robert slowly turned his head to his brother and gave him a death glare as firefighters ran past them to put out the fires.

Jim smiled. “Fireworks are fun.”