The Gremlin
July 3rd
“Our tax dollars at work,” says Houston as we walk toward the annex building where the city stores its Fourth of July fireworks.
“Better safe than sorry,” I respond. I wave at the Superintendent of the Public Works as he comes toward us. “Hey, Carl!”
“Nancy, great to see you,” he says as he shakes my hand. “The boys were a little worried that you wouldn’t do it. They’re a superstitious lot, and with your mother passed on they were getting nervous. God rest her soul.”
“I wouldn’t leave you guys hanging even if I wasn’t running the shop. Everyone is out, right?”
“Yep, they know the drill.”
For the last twelve years, my Mom had performed a cleansing on the annex just before the Fourth of July celebration to chase away gremlins. Not that the city has ever been the v
