Memories of the Class of 1956!

Written by Keith Hickey

November 1, 2010

A Timely Prayer Intervention

In '54, my brother and I were allowed that year the opportunity to send away for fire works. Yes, this was allowed without question about age or parental permission. We purchased fire crackers, even 3" red ones, ash cans, and cherry bombs by the gross. Yes, 144 in a box. Along with other things like rockets and roman candles. Ah, these were the good old days. One Sunday, to appease "Mom", brother Chuck and I were in a Methodist Sunday school meeting room with other young people. The rooms were long and narrow with an open chest high, horizontal pivoting window. The teacher had stepped out as it was nearly time for regular 11:00 AM service. Thinking this was an opportune time to liven up the place, one of us, must have been Chuck, pulled a cherry bomb out of his pocket, some one with a match decided it should be thrown out the window. I offered to do the throwing, which seemed like a no-brainer, er a poor choice of thinking? The lit cherry bomb hit the open edge of the window and fell back into the narrow room at my feet. At least I was smart enough to just watch in awe and not try to pick it up. The thing that saved us, I'm sure, was a dozen frightened kids saying a quick one. It was probably the only dud in 300 + fireworks. After a moment, the fuse stopped smoking and I tossed it out the window. The teacher came back and wondered what the smell was? Match smell or sulfur and brimstone? With the church lesson firmly in place, we became believers for at least two days. We then went back to trying to get catfish and carp with weighted fireworks at the outfall in the park. Oh yes, a number went down the barrels of the cannons at the top of main street.

Keith