FireWorks

The wind whistles through the trees, the leaves rustling with excitement.  The bright sun bears down on the small boys neck, he squints wishing to see its beauty.  The day is July fourth, the day of independence for his great nation.  He does not know it yet, but one day this small child will grow up fighting for his freedom, and more importantly his country’s liberty.  However today is a simple day.  A day full of celebration, parties, and reuniting with loved relatives.  But to this boy there is no knowledge of the importance of this day yet.  He cannot comprehend the sacrifices that were put down for his comfortable life.  He knows only of his father, a courageous man who went off, fighting to protect the very thing that was given to him more than 200 years ago.  The boy has no major memories of his father, but he remembers his strong, warm embrace.  He remembers his welcoming smile, a smile which would comfort him and give him ease.  He thought about his father, and his homecoming.  All he wanted to do was see his smiling face once again.  But his thoughts were suddenly jolted as the car came to an abrupt stop.  He quickly through open his car door and jolted towards his house.  As he swung the door open he was welcomed by his aunt and her sons.  He had not seen his cousins in ages and wanted nothing more than to play with them.  The aunt welcomed him into the house, but for a brief moment he saw a flash of pity and sadness in her eyes.  His aunt welcomed his mother into the house with a long thoughtful hug.  He turned around and was surprised to see a similar look on his cousins faces.  The thought of something being wrong quickly left his head, as all he wanted to do was have a fun time tonight.  So he encouraged his cousins to come along and play with him.  One by one they started to run after each other, and imagine different worlds and mystical creatures.  The sun began to fade, turning into a dark orange.  The scattered clouds of the horizon slowly began to fade away.  A clear sky emerged, a great background for the firework show that was about to begin.  The boy took a seat in a chair a bit distant from his cousins.  He loved the firework shows and did not want to be distracted by his loud cousins.  The boy waited anxiously, awaiting the magical works of art that were soon to come.  Suddenly there was an enormous explosion, and different colors lit up the sky.  The show was starting.  The noise was like cannon fire, yet there was a type of grace the boy loved.  Bright colors illuminated the sky, as the exuberant screams from his family chorused throughout the yard.  As the small boy was sitting there he began to think of his dad again.  Wherever he was in the world, was he witnessing fireworks as well.  Was he feeling loved on this important day.  His mind pondered these different thoughts, and felt sad for his father.  He was sad that he could not be embraced with people he loved constantly.  He was sad that he could not live in luxury, or even in comfort.  Then a small thought crept into his mind.  Would he ever see him again?