The Night Breakers

It’s time for the sparks in our hearts to come out. The night is dark, but we laugh anyway, threading our way through the trees and the dark fields, hiding from cars and any people who might be roaming the night. Heavy backpacks lift us up, since we know what is in them. We reach the right field and frantically begin unloading our spectacular burden. From a rooftop barely visible in the darkening night, a flare lights up. A return flare is fired, and then everything is dark. We come together, shake hands and go to our stations. No words are needed or welcome in this sacred darkness. Suddenly, each of us holds a flame, a small catalyst for the great event to come. As we kneel down and fumble in the twilight, our breaths catch in our throat, and we each pray silently that this gamble will pay off. Sparks begin to fly, hisses break through the blanket of silence, and we all grab our empty packs and run. As explosions break out behind us and the sky is set on fire, we forget our mute taboo and begin to whoop and cheer. Eerie shrieks and brilliant explosions give us company. Sirens explode into life around this previously abandoned farm and how fast you can run is the line between scot free and juvenile record, but we don’t care. We reach the safe house where those who were too scared to try fell behind, and we all climb up to the roof to enjoy the effects of slow-burning fuses and as many fireworks as we could get our hands on. Fists are bumped, and grins are shared freely, as teenage rebellion gone right rips the peaceful night apart. When the show is over, we all climb off the roof and share one last glance before parting. We all have futures, and not all of those will be shared with each other, but the present and the immediate past is something that will always be remembered, a story that we will to all of our children.