Bottle Rocket Wars - Like most other areas, fireworks were illegal where we lived. But, on the 4th of July, it was understood that the cops weren't going to do anything about it. Cookie was one of the main suppliers in our neighborhood. He was a friend of my Dad's who hung out at Frank's Grill. Cookie would get the best M-80s too - better than I can even get to this day. My older brothers before me and then me when I was old enough would make our fireworks lists and take orders from our friends. We made a little profit on each big item we sold. But, we made the most money from those who bought four packs of firecrackers or a dozen bottle rockets for a dollar. I did not like M-80s myself. And it took me awhile before I was brave enough to launch a bottle rocket by throwing it like my brothers did. I preferred making a bottle rocket gun out of an old copper pipe and a couple of pieces of wood for a handle. At least a couple of those years we ended up having bottle rocket wars against John Ambrose & Al Mruk. We would be in the field behind my house and they would be in John John's back yard. We just launched the bottle rockets in the general direction and none of us ever got hurt. That was the best time!
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© JAK - 2002