A Cracker Night

WOT Intercept Division Archive Reference:

WOT’s thoughts intercepted November 5, 1954

“Humans spend much of their lives avoiding loud noises, smoke, fire, and flying objects.

Yet on certain evenings they combine all four and appear very excited.

Classification: Human Behaviour — Delightfully Inexplicable”.

A Local News Report explained the event:

An eyewitness said “It was the second (no wait…third), biggest night of the year, Cracker Night. Kids of all ages gathered around a small fire. They carried shoe boxes, paper bags and some had pockets full, jammed with fireworks. Each took turns to light a wick and stand back. The night that stands out in my memory, did not have a happy ending for Rowdy Smith. His flat-top haircut drew admiration from every kid in the neighbourhood. Long at the sides, square across the back of the neck, and perfectly flat on top. Every hair on the top of Rowdy’s head stood straight up and was cut at an even length. It was like a table top. It was perfect. Until November 5, 1954. The bonfire was especially big that night. And there were more that a dozen excited larrikins jumping and yelling at every explosion. Jumping Jacks, Double Bungers, Catherine Wheels and more, exploding randomly around the fire. Oh, and yes, the ultimate, the Sky Rocket. They had saved it until last. It was anticipated that the wick would burn nice and slowly, (and it did) and that the rocket would shoot straight up and follow a slow arc out of sight. (It didn’t). As the wick burnt, the glass bottle which held the rocket, slowly moved in the grass and came to rest almost flat on the ground, pointing straight at Rowdy Smith. In the seconds it took to reach him, Rowdy stumbled back, still facing the rocket which hit him straight between the eyes, skimming through the middle of the much admired flat top. It took months for the haircut to re-emerge and it was never the same. The hair on Rowdy’s head looked a bit curly and uneven. Rowdy was just one of the kids again”.