Page 52 of Black and White, Twice the Might (Cadenbury Town #8)

W e have hot chestnuts with Titus and Kean, then get some drinks and have a wander around looking for the boys.

We find them with John, Temp and Ben, waving sparklers around and writing with them.

“No writing rude words,” I comment as we reach their sides.

Ben drops his arm and frowns. “I don’t know what to write now.”

We all burst out laughing at that.

Enoch holds his sparkler out. “Wanna hold my sparkler?”

“Not for me, thanks. Sly?” I look at him.

Sly shakes his head. “Nope, I’m happy drinking my hot chocolate.”

“When does the fireworks display start?” Xander asks generally.

“Eight, which is,” Temp looks at his phone, “two minutes.”

“Adhan and Cam have set them to music. They are using the 1812 overture,” Ben adds.

“Isn’t that the one used in that film when V blows up parliament?” I ask, thinking hard.

“Yep, that’s the one,” John replies. “Let me take your sparklers, they’ve gone out now.” John collects them, and Ben and Temps take them to be disposed of.

There are sand buckets dotted all around the green for the spent sparklers. They can be thrown out tomorrow once they have cooled down.

There is suddenly the crackle of a microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Cadenbury Fireworks event. For any visitors to our fair town, I am Adhan Stone, Mayor of Cadenbury, be welcome. The event this year will be slightly different; we are using silent fireworks, set to the 1812 overture. There is still time for anyone who wants something different to go to the manor and watch films and eat chocolate with Ernest and whoever else is there. Otherwise, stay and enjoy yourselves. Cam, hit it.”

There is a moment of silence before the music starts and the first firework shoots up into the sky, before silently exploding into a sparkle of multi-coloured stars.

Enoch leans back against me, looking up to the sky. “I’m loving the silent fireworks. I’m not jumping all the time.”

“No one gave a thought about how the loud bangs can affect people or animals until Ernest brought it up,” Ben says. “Thankfully, Cam found some, and we’ll be using them going forward.”

“That’s good to know for when we get a dog,” Xander puts out there, throwing both Sly and me a grin.

“We’ll see,” I reply, just as Sly says, “That’s true.”

I sigh. They’ll wear me down eventually, and we’ll get a dog at some point.

John comes back with marshmallow sticks for all of us.

We all thank him and enjoy our treats. As we’re munching on our sweet goodness, Alfred and Justice come and join us, eating hot chestnuts.

“Want one?” Alfred offers, holding the bag out.

“We’ve already scoffed two bags,” Sly tells him.

Enoch holds his marshmallow stick out. “Want some?”

“We’re hitting the marshmallow stand once we’ve finished these,” Justice tells us, popping a chestnut in his mouth.

“Stopped teasing Ernest yet?” I ask Al with a laugh.

John snorts. “As if.”

“Grandpops is right. It’s so much fun to tease him.”

“I'll let him help with the magic box,” Sly says generously.

“Please don’t, then we can tease him some more,” Alfred begs.

I shake my head at him. “That’s just mean.”

“But fun.”

“And everyone says you’re the nice Stone,” Sly says.

Alfred leans against Justice and laughs. “I’m only mean to Ernest.”

John shakes his head. “You should hear them at work, it’s like dealing with two school children.”

“But you love us, anyway.”

John gives a large fake sigh. “I guess.”

“The fireworks are timed well with the music,” Xander says.

“Nix helped Cam and Adhan set up. He used his magic to make sure everything went off when it was supposed to,” Justice tells him.

“Magic is so cool,” Xander replies.

I hear a cackle from beside me.

“That it is, Xander. If your brothers agree, we can start your magic training next week. You can both join Nora in her lessons. There are a couple of other witch children who want to learn more. I thought I could teach you all at the same time.”

Enoch gives her his cheeky grin. “That would be amazeballs, thanks, Molly.”

“I echo that, thanks, Molly,” I add.

Molly cackles out a laugh. “I’ll message you the dates and times.”

“Thanks, Molly,” Xander says, beaming at her.

We all turn back to look at the display, the music is building up to its grand finale, and the fireworks are giving a stunning silent display. As the final note sounds, the last firework is sent up, and we all burst out laughing. It shoots out the words ‘Cadenbury Town Rules’.

“I’m trying to get big brother to do something with drones for New Year’s Eve,” Ben tells us.

Temp grins. “We were watching some videos online with drone displays, and they were incredible.”

“Or you know, the witches could just use magic,” John suggests.

Temp bounces on his feet. “Hell yeah. Leave it with me, I’ll organise everything.”

“Now I’m scared,” Justice says, with a grimace.

Temp pats his arm. “It will be fine, you guys can help.”

“It will be epic,” Sly adds.

“It will be something,” John mutters.

It sure will be.