What does he take me for? Heh, heh.

A former neighbor of mine was into home-made fireworks and moving. He had rockets which used a broomstick as a stabliizer, big things. He had one left over from a bunch, and didn't want to take it with him. The stick was inserted into a tube about 3 inches across, a sizeable affair for your backyard.

About 10:00 PM one night last summer as he was packing he invited me into his backyard, stuck this thing point down in the ground and lit the fuse. We were going to watch the sparkles, which he assured me would shoot 15 feet into the air.

Then he moved behind a large crate. I thought that was suspicious, as I wasn't behind anything. I said something, he muttered that about 1 in 10 blow up.

I sauntered quite rapidly over behind a tree which suddenly seemed small just as there was a hellacious explosion. A very large bang. Much larger than his home-made M-80s, and they are louder than the store-bought. This "boom" had a breadth and depth which is unusual in anything I've heard which isn't steel or brass cased. Clearly wasn't a backfire, firecracker, or gun. Could have been a water heater.

We both got the nervous giggles, looked a bit for the broomstick, and he started apologizing to the neighbors who appeared out of nowhere.

After enough apologies, grovelling, and assuring them he's moving and will never be back, they left.

5 minutes later a cop showed up in the driveway. Big sigh from my friend, and he walked out to the cop. Explained the circumstances fully and honestly.

The cop told him to be careful, we're at war, and he has good neighbors. At that point we're both little puddles of pee, obsequious, really embarrassed. And meant it.

Then went back into the house and giggled some more. It really was loud.

Sounding rocket, indeed, alcaray. Maybe it's just a rocket pointed down instead of up.

Arf