“Yeah, that’s just what you need, Pyro.” Andrew rolls his eyes. “I’ll do a second instead. I’m more experienced.”
“Since when?” she challenges. “When have you ever set off fireworks?”
“Uhhh do you not remember Brendan’s New Year’s Eve party last year? He and I put on quite the show.”
Rebecca crosses her arms, trying not to admit defeat. “So let your sister get some experience instead of hogging it. How else am I going to learn, Andy?”
I place my hand over my mouth, desperately trying to hide the smile that is spreading across my face right now. I love watching the twins fight. They are such a great match for one another. Between Rebecca’s sass and Andrew’s matter-of-fact tone, they are quite amusing to watch. I try to stay neutral, but when push comes to shove, I always pick Rebecca’s side, even when she’s wrong ninety-percent of the time. It’s just how the girl code works, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that she’d do the same for me without even thinking about it.
“Maybe we should just let Emma do it. Sheisour guest, and she should get a say in the matter too,” Andrew offers, turning toward me with raised brows.
“I don’t know that I’d call myself a guest. I live next door three months out of the year,” I correct, unsure why that matters. “I think I’m good though. One of you can have it.”
“That’ll be me!” Rebecca shouts.
Before Andrew can object, a firework explodes on the other side of the lake. We see the vibrant green light before we hear the bang a couple of seconds later. Just like that, the argument is over because it’s time for the moment we’ve been waiting for.
Two more fireworks go off to our right and sparklers get lit a few beaches down from us. It’s incredible.
I take a moment to just bask in the colorsand sounds. One firework shoots up, exploding with blue and then crackling in gold. I practically shiver at the sound. It’s my favorite type of firework.
Andrew grabs the Roman candles out of the box, handing Rebecca one, and then turning toward me. “Ready?”
I shake my head. “I think I’ll watch first.”
Rebecca immediately pulls a lighter out of her back pocket as she heads closer to the water, eager as ever to set her firework off.
“Okay, seriously, you’re only proving us right about the whole pyromaniac thing,” I chuckle after her.
She rolls her eyes and shrugs. “I’m just being prepared.”
With the Roman candle firmly in one hand, Rebecca lights the fuse with her other. There’s a moment of silence as we all hold our breath and wait for it to go off. With a small kick, the first firework shoots up into the air. A tiny, shimmery red firework bursts open, shattering the darkness. A blue, yellow, green, and another red follow after.
When it’s over, Rebecca calmly sets the Roman candle down near the water and dusts her hands off. “I’m ready for my next one.”
What a badass, I can’t help but think to myself. Our parents waltz out to the deck and come down to the beach, Dani in tow. While Andrew prepares to set off his Roman candle, I can see a glimmer in the eyes of my dad and Mr. Martin. They totally want to get in on this. I, on the other hand, am still content to just watch the show.
As Andrew’s third firework goes off with a bang, Mr. Martin begins moving toward the box of goodies we brought home today. I watch him assess the box in the same manner I inspect all the flavors in an ice cream shop. He wiggles his fingers and dives into the box, coming up with one of the bigger fireworks.
“Stand back, kids! Let me show you how it’s done.”
He sets this firework down in a stand on the beach andlights fire to the fuse. I see a small light fizzle up into the tube and then the firework shoots up with much more force than the Roman candles. It’s a little startling. But with a bang louder than a gunshot, the firework makes everyone go still in awe. It’s huge. I’ve never seen a firework so big. It must span the entire length of the Martin’s beach and then some. It’s fantastic!
“That. Was. Awesome!” Rebecca shouts, running back to the box to dig out another firework like Mr. Martin’s. My dad is immediately in tow, and Andrew takes the two steps required to reach the box as well. It’s a frenzy.
Fireworks are exploding on all sides of the lake, filling the air with snaps, crackles, and pops. It’s just like we are in a giant bowl of Rice Krispies.
The next ten minutes fly by, and we are down to only a few fireworks left, but I have yet to set one off. Part of me is curious. I see the thrill in everyone else’s eyes, and I want to be a part of that, but an even louder part of me is picturing me running away from the fireworks with my clothes set aflame and the Martins’ dock going up in smoke. I know it may be crazy, but my creative brain can’t decipher between what’s realistic and what isn’t.
Rebecca comes back from setting off another Roman candle. “Emma, are you going to take a turn?”
I shrug. “I’m not sure. It’s been plenty fun watching all of you, though.”
Rebecca moves in closer to me. “Come on. You should give it a try. Just one. Whichever one you want.”
I give her a cautious smile. “I don’t want to set myself on fire.”
At that moment, Andrew joins the conversation. “You won’t set yourself on fire. If it was possible, Rebecca would’ve managed to do it by now.”
