G/t one-shots and short stories

Sterling Household Chapter 9: Happy 4th of July!🎆🎇🎇🧨

Note: Remember, these are snapshots of their lives, not necessarily in a timeline order. Even though the previous ones followed one after the other. :D

Sterling sat at his kitchen table, sipping his morning coffee. His eyes lit up at the sight of little Agnes throwing her makeshift grappling hook and climbing her way up to the top of the table. Sterling resisted the urge to pick her up or cup his hands under her to provide a safety net. In past cases when he tried this, the little folk gave him an ear full. Sterling understood now that doing something like that made them feel belittled, and such gestures were only appreciated if they were in true danger. He understood now that they needed to do things independently without help, and he should only aid them if they asked or if they truly did slip and fall.

"Hey there, little friend." Sterling greeted the tiny teen.

"Hi, Mr. Sterling, do you have any of those big cotton balls? I think you keep them in your bathroom, Ma, and Pa told me to ask you." Agnes asked; she had to tilt her head up to meet his gaze.

"Sure, I have a bunch; how much do you need?" Sterling asked.

"I guess enough for all of us and extra for padding; we need to make new earmuffs and lining for the walls," Agnes replied.

"Oh? Can I ask what for? It's too hot outside for earmuffs?" Sterling asked, his tone filled with curiosity and puzzlement.

"Oh! It's for the great booming tonight. You giants like to make a lot of noise, and it's scary, and my ears always hurt."

"OH! I see it's for the fireworks! I'm sorry. I didn't think how that would affect you guys," Sterling replied. In the past years, he wasn't one to shoot off fireworks at home; usually, he was visiting family or spending it at a friend's home. But his neighbors loved shooting them off. Thankfully, in the area they lived in, it was only allowed on the day and a few days after the 4th.

"It's ok, we're used to it," Agnes replied with a shrug. "But why do you guys make so much noise?"

"I see; you don't know what the 4th is?" Sterling asked; it never occurred to him that they might not know or wouldn't have had anyone to ask or teach them.

"Of course, I know what the 4th is......it's the great booming silly!" Agnes replied with a cheeky grin.

"No," Sterling said with an amused grin. "It's something we do to celebrate our country; it's like a birthday; we shoot off fireworks, and they light up the sky! Theres so many colors and shapes, it's quite the spectacle."

"I don't really understand what all that is. What are fireworks?" Agnes asked, getting more confused as Sterling tried to explain.

"I guess they're explosives, really colorful fire, that explode into patterns and colors. There are smaller ones, too, things that use smoke and sparks." Sterling tried to explain, finding it hard without showing the little borrower.

"That sounds dangerous, you giants play with fire? But why does it have to be so loud?" Agnes asked.

"They are loud because they are a really big explosion and they can be dangerous, we just find it fun to watch." Sterling conceded with a nod. "Here, let me show you." Sterling reached for his phone in his pocket.

Sterling selected a video on his phone and brought it closer to the small girl. The phone looked massive compared to her. It could act as her personal TV.

"See," Sterling said, his voice gentle like a summer breeze, "Just watch this. Sterling suggested tapping the tablet to life. Bursts of color exploded across the display, accompanied by a symphony of oohs and aahs from a recorded crowd, the volume low enough not to startle.