"Fire-Worst"

 The sun beat down on my parents and I as we left the car to go to the fireworks tent. It was the fourth of July tomorrow and we had somehow not gathered any fireworks until today. Normally, we would have done this a week or so in advanced, but my parents were extra busy this year. They said they had to work longer hours because everything was becoming far more expensive than normal. I felt bad for them.

As we entered the fireworks stand, there were plenty of colorful boxes stacked neatly on several tables. The tent looked far bigger on the inside than on the outside. I looked around at all the boxes, enjoying the art. The contents on the inside were kind of lost on me, for to me they only exploded in the end and I didn't know much of a difference at the time.

My parents picked up a few boxes each and talked amongst each other as they did so. Judging by all the boxes they carried, I could tell this was going to be a July 4th that I'd never forget. Little did I know just how right I was.

Before long, we made our way to checkout table. A guy looked over the boxes and wrote down a total for everything. My parents seemed a little shaken by the number but ended up paying it. We started back to the car and my dad opened the trunk and placed a few boxes inside. Shortly after, a car pulled up beside us from off the main road. The driver's side window rolled down and an older man who was dressed like a farmer began to speak.

"It's a lovely day to buy fireworks, ain't it?" he spoke in a heavy country accent.

"It sure is," my dad replied, raising his hand to shield his eyes from the blinding sun.

"You aren't planning to shoot them off in town, are ya?" said the farmer. "They passed a law last year that said shootin' them off in city limits is illegal. Fire hazard or somethin'."

"Yeah, I heard about that," my dad said. "Thankfully they don't enforce it, right?"

"I don't see why they wouldn't," the farmer said, leaning toward my dad slightly.

"They probably passed it to make people more aware of the dangers of fireworks," my dad said. "I mean, if it were really illegal, the fireworks show in the park would have to be canceled, right?"

"I suppose so," replied the farmer, readjusting his seating position. "Well, you guys have a good Fourth of July. I'd better get going."

The farmer rolled up his window and drove off. My parents exchanged glances. What was that all about?

***

The living room swelled with a savory aroma as my mom was cooking dinner on the other room. Judging by the smell, it had to have been her lasagna. It was probably my favorite thing she makes. As we waited for the food to be ready, my dad and I were on the couch and watching television together. It was some singing competition. I didn't care much for it, but my parents loved it.

Suddenly, as one of the women were mid-song, some weird glitches appeared on screen before eventually taking over completely. The screeching alongside the glitching was like nails on a chalkboard to me. My dad began freaking out a little, concerned by the event. He started reaching for the remote to change the channel, but the next channel showed the same glitches. Soon enough the glitches faded to a gradient of red and black. Strange symbols in white that appeared hand-drawn began to flash on the screen in quick succession. Some strange chanting could be heard faintly through the speakers.

My mom walked into the room just then. "What are you guys watching?" She seemed alarmed.

"It's on every station," my dad said as he frantically flipped through the channels. I could see the channel numbers at the top of the screen changing but the same video playing was consistent. I began to feel a little scared. What even was this?

But as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared, flashing back to the normal channel that we were on. There was some Western show on. Some cowboys were standing next to their horses in the desert.

"What the hell even was that?" My dad asked, setting the remote back on the table in front of the couch.

"Jeff, watch your language around our son," my mom said, agitatedly.

He looked to me and hugged me. "Are you okay, buddy? That didn't scare you, did it?"

I started to say something, but just then a slow and steady beep erupted from the kitchen. The food was done.