Fourth

Browsing around a batch of OLD files (in a folder titled “Really OLD Files”) and found this essay from Mrs. Stecklein’s English class at TMP-M my junior or senior year.  It seemed appropriate for this time of year…

The celebration began as it had every Fourth of July. Children grew restless as the long awaited event drew near. Soon the celebration of America’s birthday would fill the night air with the sights and sounds befitting such a party. A hush fell upon the crowd as the sun slowly slipped below the western horizon. The sky’s peaceful blue transformed to shades of red and orange. As the sun sank further, deep purple replaced the orange and red. Finally, with the black of night settling in, the celebration began.

As everyone and everything faded into the darkness of the night the band assembled inside the concert shell structure and played its first song. The rousing march conveyed feelings of national pride and joy throughout the audience. Each individual instrument added an integral element to the whole of the music. The bass drum along with the low brass section beat out a rhythm which demanded attention. With a complex and involved part the snare drums also contributed to the rhythm. No one could help but tap his foot. Trumpets cut above the rhythm with piercing melody like bright light shining from the darkness. Finally, on top of all that came the whistle and trill of the piccolos. The feeling and emotion stirred by the band prepared the audience for what they were about to behold.

Suddenly, the sound of the crack of gunpowder ripped through the air. Color and light immediately filled the clear starlit sky. First, brilliant red appeared and then blinding white. Each color brought an astonished reaction from the people who craned their necks upward to see what would happen next. Large explosions rocked the ground as magnificent colors traveled upward to meet the splendid nighttime. At the top of the projectile’s flight, the crowd heard a second smaller explosion before color arched out to stretch across the entire sky. After a time, the giant umbrella slowly faded from view, however, another quickly took its place.

As all good things must, the spectacular celebration drew to a close. One last grand event reached for the people’s attention. The conductor announced the band’s last selection over the public address system. As the band began to play the national anthem, a large replica of the Stars and Stripes lighted in the center of the field. Fireworks of every imaginable sort filled the sky as the huge flag burned brightly on the ground. Finally, with the last strain of the anthem the explosions ceased and the color faded from the air. The celebration had ended until next year.