GUY FAWKES NIGHT:

Always wanted to make this story into a picture book, problem is, I can't draw!

GUY FAWKES NIGHT:

The sun danced through the open window and set tiny dust particles  into spinning like small planets.  The curtains waltzed back and forth in time to the gentle summer breeze. The walls mellowed under the sun's  gentle light. 

Old Robert Farmer noticed the golden sunlight entering the room.   He sat in his favourite chair by the window and let the sun warm his face. As the light warmed him, he watched bright red dots form old faces upon his  closed eyelids. Robert allowed the sun to casually send him to sleep. 

Asleep he dreamed.... Dreaming he remembered .....  He remembered a time  long ago.... When he was a child.... He remembered one particular night.... Guy Fawkes Night!

Having eaten their dinner without complaints, the children gathered at the front steps and waited for their father to arrive home from work. 

The sun gradually withdrew beneath the horizon. The first stars appeared.... As yet there was no sign of their father. In the tranquillity of the night they could hear other children greet their fathers with exclamations of delight. Soon the very first explosions were peppering the darkness, accompanied, as always, with dogs barking at the sudden madness released upon their calm worlds.

The children began to worry.  Harry, the family dog,  sensed their concern and barked loudly, just in case he should.  Robert knew his father would come home; there was no need to fret. He enjoyed the waiting, the growing sense of excitement before the event. Smiling, he grabbed hold of Harry's red collar  and pulled him close. Harry licked Robert's nose then growled, barked and licked Robert's nose again.

 The children heard a car turning the corner near their house.  It was their Dad's car. They leapt to their feet and waved. Harry barked. The old black F.J. Holden spluttered up the drive and came to a stop before the wonky old wooden garage doors. 

Mr. Farmer climbed out  of his car and was immediately besieged by his family. He looked at Mrs. Farmer and winked. Only Robert saw the wink.

" Where are the fireworks?" Screamed Robert's brothers and sisters.

" Fireworks? " Asked Robert's dad innocently.

" Its Guy Fawkes night! "  The children bellowed.

" Huh?" Exclaimed their father scratching his head in confusion.

" Dad! Tonight!  It's Guy Fawkes night! Where are the fireworks? "  The children pleaded.

" I forgot."  Said Mr Farmer, slapping his brow.

" I forgot to remind you." Answered Mrs. Farmer on cue.

" Oh Noooo! "  Screamed the children.

The children moaned. Robert stood beside his father smiling and watching the reactions of his siblings. When he felt they had suffered enough, he tugged at his father's sleeve.

" Dad "  said Robert quietly   " I saw you wink at mum."

" Daa- aad! " screamed his brothers and sisters.

" Caught!" laughed Robert's mum, hugging Mr Farmer and kissing his cheek.

"I can never fool you Robert. "  smiled Mr. Farmer.

Harry barked. He felt it was right to do so. 

Robert's  father reached into the car and pulled out a largest brown paper bag. The bag was crammed with a wild array of fireworks. There were Rockets and Sparklers and Catherine Wheels and Fountains and Tom Thumbs and still more! There were even some the children were unable to name. Strange looking ones with long wicks and bright swirling paper. 

To kick off the evening's fun the sparklers were lit by Mrs Farmer and passed around. The children spun circles and squares in the night. Robert spelt his name out in fiery letters that glowed red and blue in the darkness before fading quickly into nothing.

 After the sparklers came the real feast. The fireworks were  prepared with meticulous planning. 

Catherine Wheels were lined up along the old wooden gate. 

Rockets were placed in used milk bottles in the middle of the backyard. 

Exploding Fountains circled around the base of the empty clothesline.

Tom Thumbs dangled from the clothesline.

When everything was ready, Robert's brother Gary, the performer of the family, entered from the back door wearing a large black hat.

" Ladies and Gentlemen!  Your attention please! It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all here tonight for this, the sixteenth annual Guy Fawkes Fireworks Display! So, without further ado, let the fireworks begin! "   Bellowed Gary in his best theatrical voice.

Mr. and Mrs. Farmer laughed. The children clapped and the night exploded into colour.

Catherine Wheels spun and whooshed and whipped the night air as they flung themselves around in mad circles! 

Rockets squealed into the heavens, racing each other towards the distant galaxies before exploding into showers of dazzling colours.

The Tom Thumbs rat-a-tat-tatted like angry cats, spluttering and flinging themselves about in gay abandon.

Everything made a noise. Everything spat forth light,  fire and colour. Harry barked, howled and growled  all while chasing  wisps of paper and fading sparks.

 Across the sprawling city, thousands of other fireworks filled the night as colours burst free from paper. The smell of gunpowder and burnt wrappers permeated the air. 

Rockets zoomed into the starry sky. 

Bangs and barks punctuated the evening. 

Old Robert awoke with a start!

He could hear the bangs and clangs of his fireworks... No, not fireworks... A brass band paraded past old  Robert's window, the music having fed his daydream of that night long ago.

A twinkle danced in his eyes. Smiling, he slowly stood, stretched his old bones and left his house to walk the short distance to Wong's Emporium. 

" Hello Robert " said  Mr. Wong, offering a slight bow in recognition.

" Hello David ."  Said Robert as he returned the bow.   " May I  purchase three of your very best sky rockets please."   Asked Robert warmly.

 " Certainly Robert "  Said Mr. Wong, returning Robert's smile.

Tightly clutching the brown bag containing his three sky rockets, Robert Farmer excitedly walked home.

He placed the three rockets in three old bottles in the middle of his small back yard. Robert then went inside and found some matches. He opened the matchbox and checked that some live matches remained. Satisfied, he returned outside and happily sat down in a chair by the back door. Robert Farmer placed the matches beside the chair, hummed an old tune and waited for the sun to sink beneath the horizon.

Dusk sheltered the neighbourhood while birds chirped and chased the emerging insects. Fading sunlight passed through the white clouds, turning them bright pink. Finally  it was  dark enough to begin.

With shaking hands Robert struck a match and quickly lit the rockets'  wicks. In the still  night air three rockets squealed forth and raced up towards the tiny stars. Three loud bangs shook the evening quiet.  A shower of bright sparks burst forth startling children , parents and dogs  throughout the neighbourhood.

Robert stood in his small backyard staring up at the shower of colour and smiled and laughed and jumped up and down and gleefully clapped his two old hands together.

the end.....