A Different Kind of Fireworks

Last Saturday afternoon, Mom was reading and we were peacefully waiting by the door for our Dogdad to come home from the grocery store. All of a sudden we heard a commotion outside and sniffed something unpleasant. Our immediate response was to do what we do best: bark loudly and long. Mom finally looked up from her book and discovered that a car was on fire just outside our driveway.

She joined a bunch of neighbors outside and learned the car belonged to our next-door neighbor's nephew. He thought he could make it home -- but sadly not.

Neighbors started spraying water on the car, but the flames kept shooting into the sky. First a policeman appeared. Next the fire department came and thoroughly drenched the car, finally putting out the fire. And then a tow truck came and took the car away.

Just like that, these unexpected "fireworks" were over. (There were a few "booms" when each of the four tires exploded, but all in all it was much less damaging to our senses than what will happen this weekend.)

Were Dogdad home, he would have been the first one out there with a hose. Mom kept him apprised of what was going on by cell phone -- but he missed all the excitement and, indeed, couldn't have gotten back into our driveway anyway until all the other vehicles were gone.

If we hadn't barked, Mom might never have known what was going on, that's how engrossed she was in her book -- which, by the way, she recommends to everyone: Forbidden Lessons in a Kabul Guesthouse by Suraya Sadeed. (FYI: When she starts reading a book she likes, we could starve to death...)

Jake and Just Harry