THOSE DAYS

The Firecracker

As we just shifted to a new place,  we thought of celebrating it with burning firecrackers with some of the children in our neighborhood . As we came out,  most of the kids were already present there,  playing hopscotch, marbles and other fun games.  As soon as they heard that we are going to burn some crackers,  they all gathered at one place and waited for me to put on the fire.  As soon as I moved backwards after putting on the fire,  I bumped into someone. When I looked up,  he was a boy looking just of the same age as me . His eyes were hazel and were sparkling as the sunlight fell on them . I'm pretty damn sure that those eyes would look more beautiful is those spectacles which he wore were not there. I just paused adoring his beauty till his voice called

"Hello miss, are you Okay "
"Yeah. I'm just fine.  Thank you "
" I guess you're the one who just moved to our neighborhood "
"Yeah!  You're right "
" By the way,  I'm Lucas"
" I'm Catherine.  Nice to meet you "
" my pleasure "

As I moved my eyes from him,  it was the moment when I realized that another boy was standing beside him . He was standing and had folded his arms. He was staring at the other direction as if he was annoyed by our talk. I felt it a bit unfair to ignore him so I just asked his name.

" Hi there!  Sorry but I didn't saw you earlier "
He ignored me?
"Oh sorry Catherine but he's always like that. He doesn't talk to people that often . Well let me introduce him for you.  He's Arlo , he studies with me "
" Oh!  Great to hear that he's your friend "
" Yup!  My mom told me that you were going to be my new classmate so I think we'll be good friends "
So he is the son of that aunt with whom my mother talked for hours. Ugh!  It literally took forever
" Yeah!  Your mom is really very sweet and nice "
" I guess you're quite right "

Suddenly Harry started shouting my name
" Sis, let's burn another cracker "
"okay,  wait a minute "
I took a cracker in my hand and lighted it but as soon as it was going to blast in my hand,  I threw it away.  I didn't look before throwing it and it ended in bursting on the back of Arlo. I don't know where he was heading at that moment but I'm sure that his back was burnt due to me . I panicked but Lucas took him to his house. I soon realized that both of them were my neighbors.  As soon as the news spread to my parents,  they called me and asked me to visit Arlo to apologize. I knew it wasn't totally my fault but I knew that it was partially because of me so without speaking a word,  I headed towards his house.
As soon as I reached,  I was welcomed by his dad.

" Good evening uncle . I'm  so sorry "
"Oh ! No problem. Why do you apologize. It was this brat's fault. "
" No uncle,   It was because of me . My parents will buy all the supplements today but please forgive me. "
" No need for that kid. It's really fine . He's a tough boy. He'll be fine after taking some medicines. It was all his fault. He's just too naughty, Otherwise why he's the only one who got hurt "
" uncle can I please apologize to him personally ?"
" it's not necessary but As you wish . Let me show you the way "
"thank you uncle"

As soon as I entered his room,  his dad left. He was lying on his stomach and reading a book .It was just because I burnt his back that he couldn't even sleep properly now. I feared to say a word but I apologized
" I'm really sorry "
" get out! "
"I didn't do it on purpose "
" Just get out , I'm reading , don't interrupt "
"I apologize,  I'm really sorry "
" I'm  sorry? Is an apology useful?  If apology works then here,  turn over . Let me burn your back too and just apologize "
" But,  how can you be like that?  "
" I'm just like that. not happy ?"
" But..."
" Don't you understand? Just get out of my sight "

I didn't had much energy to fight with him as I knew that it was my fault so I just turned and went to my home