‘KABOOO!’
Aria smiled widely as another explosion filled the night sky with blue and gold. Lounging on a lawn chair that almost put her in the lying position, she raised a stout glass full of ice and a brown liquid up to her lips and took a sip.
‘KABOOM!’
Aria hummed contently as yet another firework went off, filling the night with light and noise.
“What the heck are you doing?!” Adagio’s annoyed voice called out.
Aria leaned over slightly and motioned out with the hand that held her beverage, the ice clinking gently. “I’m watching the fireworks!”
“I can see that? I meant what are you doing inside?!”
“It’s like 90 out there!” Aria said. “I can see the fireworks fine from here!” She declared as she continued staring out the large window of the Dazzling’s entry room.
‘KABOOM!’
Adagio jumped slightly, then looked up at the sky in annoyance. “I don’t even know what’s the point of this stupid holiday. Every year it’s just bright lights and noise.”
“I know! It’s great.” Aria said. “For some reason I get to see explosions and see you get all huffy!” She took a sip of her drink. “It’s win-win!”
Adagio narrowed her eyes. “That’s not—”
“You two don’t even know the true meaning of Independence Day?!”
Adagio and Aria turned and looked up the stairs as Sonata hefted down a massive misshapen red bag.
Sonata shook her head as she descended the stairs, stopped at the front door, and dropped the bag. “Don’t you two know anything?!”
Adagio and Aria narrowed their eyes.
“You hold her down,” Aria said. “I’ll punch her.”
Sonata continued, “Everyone knows the fireworks are to scare away the British!”
Adagio and Aria exchanged confused glances.
“Sonata,” Adagio began, “the sounds incredibly stupid.”
Sonata folded her arms across her chest. “Do you want to hear the story of July the 4th or not?”
“Not,” Adagio answered.
“I do,” Aria said, “but only because it’ll annoy Adagio more.”
Adagio creased her brow and glared at Aria.
Sonata smiled. “Every year the ghost of King Forge angrily gathers the English troops to reclaim the lost American Colonies.”
Adagio cocked an eyebrow, “Wait… wouldn’t the military—”
Aria raised a finger to her lips “Shhhhh! Let’s see where this goes.”
Adagio shot Aria a sour look.
“Now as everyone knows, ghosts are afraid of loud noises and bright things.”
Aria nodded. “Of course.”
Adagio rolled her eyes.
“So every year everyone gets fireworks and shoots them off into the sky! Scarring King Forge and his troops off for another year!”
Aria chuckled. “Seems legit.”
Adagio shook her head. “Sonata, that has got to be the most ridiculous—”
Sonata practically dived into her misshapen bag. With a couple muffled clicks she resurfaced with a pair of large gold framed reflective sunglasses and two hissing, lit massive rockets, one under either arm. “So that’s why I have these!” Sonata exclaimed as the rocked fusses continued to hiss and shoot sparks off in all direction.
Aria’s eyes widened and she leaned away from the sparks, raising a hand between her face, her drink and the fiery items. “Whoa!
“Sonata!” Adagio cried as she quickly gathered her own hair and held onto it tightly. “Not in the house! Do you know how much hairspray Aria uses to keep my hair in place?!”
Sonata suddenly kicked the door, it slammed open. “UP YOURS, KING FORGE!” Sonata cried as the sparks and flames of the fuses reached the end of the rockets.
‘HisssssssssSSSSHHHH’
A mass of golden sparks shot from the ends of the rockets.
‘HHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo’
The massive fireworks shot off into the sky, smoke streaking behind them.
‘KAAAAAABOOOOOOM!’
“Aaaaaiiieeee!” Adagio cried as the massive dual explosions rocked the house and she dived into the living room.
Aria coughed and waved her hand in front of her face, clearing some of the smoke that now filled the entry room. “Maybe you could fire the rest outside, genius?”
“Sonata!” Adagio cried poking her head back into the room. “What have we said about lighting high explosives indoors!?”
“Pfft, whatever…” Sonata said dismissively. She adjusted her sunglasses. “You’ll be thanking me when we go another year without ghosts!”