running down the street looking for a better spot, crowd of people at the end, empty field beyond, BOOM!, purple lights up the sky, neighbors chatting, kids laughing, motorcycle in the distance peels out, headlights behind us and everyone turns to look, movement all around me, glow of a cigarette, beer bottles clinking, CRACK!, aaah!, red white and blue, where did all these people come from?, time flows in slow motion as i look all around me and try to savor this moment, was that the finale?, bottle rockets and firecrackers all over the neighborhood, more rockets red glare, baby crying, dogs howling, smell of bbq briquettes, BANG! yellow and orange and red, oh, THIS is the finale!, laughter and applause, one last explosion, a car starts, people begin walking away, i’m left alone and still standing in the same spot, the show is over, left foot right foot, and now i’m home.

Thank you, City Of Manteca, for an absolutely spectacular fireworks show!