How Do You Say, “Sorry?”

Seven-year-old Peter loved the Fourth of July
until last year when he threw the hot wire
left after his sparkler died and it landed in
his little sister’s eye. On accident.

Daddy told him dozens of times to
put the glowing wires down IMMEDIATLY
after the sparks stopped flying.
But he couldn’t resist watching the iridescent
aluminum sail through the air, leaving
a silver shadow behind.

Now he sits with a pile of
spent wires by his hip – a glowing wire
in his hand. Carefully he presses it to
the skin on the inside of his arm and finishes
spelling TINA.