Pikachu Survives an Explosive Encounter!

I’m not usually one to splurge on fireworks. Sure, I enjoy watching them; they’re colorful and entertaining. But the idea of literally burning cash doesn’t sit well with me, and my sense of patriotism isn’t what it used to be.

That said, the 4th of July is a great excuse to indulge in the classic American tradition of enjoying drinks outdoors in the summer while feasting on grilled goodies. My friends and I embraced that spirit and had a blast. With neighbors lighting up the night sky, we were treated to a free fireworks display. Then, around 10 p.m., a couple of friends arrived with a surprise: a small box of fireworks. Inside were sparklers, bottle rockets, fountains, those spinning whirligigs that go “wheee!”, and a few larger items I probably shouldn’t mention, plus this gem:

Yep, that’s Pikachu! Or rather, the legally distinct Peek-a-boom, a yellow mouse that doesn’t quite resemble anything specific. I’ve heard that firework stands are filled with these kinds of not-so-subtle knockoffs, but since they pop up only for a few days each year, no one seems to mind when they disappear in a blaze of glory.

What was this Pikachu supposed to do? We had no clue. The label said “Spins on ground” and “Emits showers of sparks,” which is pretty much the standard description for every firework out there. Not very informative. We set off some other fireworks first, saving the Pikachu for the grand finale.

Finally, it was time to light it up. For the first few seconds, nobody was impressed. Was this just an overpriced, mediocre fountain? But then, as it progressed, things took a turn for the spectacular:

Wow! What a finale! It really did “spin on ground” and “emit showers of sparks” from five or six different spots, including those silly little ears. I briefly worried that my Russian sage in the garden, just out of frame, might catch fire.

This was a blast, and I’m grateful someone else brought a firework to our gathering. And for those wondering, Pikachu is just fine. We left him in the street to cool down, and while he was there, he got hit by an SUV. He survived that too.