It was all because of the mosquitoes. The trademark of a summer night in northern Minnesota, little red dots that are just agonizing enough to make you not want to go outside. July 4, 2012; I was at my cabin, near Grand Rapids, with all my cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, grandparents, and parents. All in all, there were 16 of us. Traditionally we would enjoy fireworks sitting by the fire pit where there is level ground, a relatively safe place to light fireworks off. But, this year we decided to hold our show 20 feet in front of our cabin so the parents could gape from inside, safe from the infamous red dots.
The kids and two brave adults suited up with bug spray and an excess of clothing to combat the mosquitoes. My uncle, who is not the most safety conscious person I know, absent-mindedly set up a launching pad with a couple of boards because the ground wasn’t level enough where we wanted to launch the fireworks. He stood back, happy with his …show more content…
My knees quivered, and I was paralyzed with fear. Faster and faster the mortar tipped; It came down with a thud. BOOM ... BOOM ... BOOM ... ! Three explosions rang out, and the mortars accelerated toward us at the speed of light. As if we were in Star Wars, streaks of light zoomed past our faces, and at this point, my uncle exclaimed, “Hit the deck!”, and my quick witted cousin hollered, “GRENADE!” All ten of us made a break for the retaining wall and dove over it full of excitement, terror, and fear. As we stood up and dusted ourselves off, we watched deafening explosions follow one after another, without end against the basement window right where my grandpa, the owner of the cabin, was standing. Finally, after the last one detonated, my mom and aunt ran outside, sick to their stomachs with fear, and demanded everyone to hurry inside so they could make sure that no one was
The kids and two brave adults suited up with bug spray and an excess of clothing to combat the mosquitoes. My uncle, who is not the most safety conscious person I know, absent-mindedly set up a launching pad with a couple of boards because the ground wasn’t level enough where we wanted to launch the fireworks. He stood back, happy with his …show more content…
My knees quivered, and I was paralyzed with fear. Faster and faster the mortar tipped; It came down with a thud. BOOM ... BOOM ... BOOM ... ! Three explosions rang out, and the mortars accelerated toward us at the speed of light. As if we were in Star Wars, streaks of light zoomed past our faces, and at this point, my uncle exclaimed, “Hit the deck!”, and my quick witted cousin hollered, “GRENADE!” All ten of us made a break for the retaining wall and dove over it full of excitement, terror, and fear. As we stood up and dusted ourselves off, we watched deafening explosions follow one after another, without end against the basement window right where my grandpa, the owner of the cabin, was standing. Finally, after the last one detonated, my mom and aunt ran outside, sick to their stomachs with fear, and demanded everyone to hurry inside so they could make sure that no one was