Friction At The Fireworks

                                                                                                 Julie Kemp Pick

Wishing on a star,
Gazing into each other's eyes.
Feeling the lakeside breeze,
Under the evening skies.

Cuddling close on a picnic blanket,
Delicious delicacies prepared by he.
Tucked away in a remote corner,
Oblivious to the surrounding activity.

Patriotic music playing,
Confessing all their future plans.
Reminiscing about childhood pasts,
Trying not to slip out of entwined clammy hands.

Music grows louder as the sky turns foreboding,
Lights start to flicker as fireworks are exploding.
Thunder and lightening take over the sky,
He's still optimistic while he finishes his pie.

He wants to wait it out as their feast floats away,
She's getting drenched while he's itching to stay.
Her mascara is running; her hair's in a frizz,
For fireworks he's still gunning, too stubborn to give.

She almost falls as she races in her swamp filled flats,
Just in time to catch a ride home with umbrella clad brats.
He calls to apologize hoping to reschedule for another fireworks show,
She politely declines while suggesting another place he should go.