firecracker

At about 7pm tonight a loud bang set everyone milling about at Washington and Sixth on edge. There were immediate “uh-ohs” and panic-stricken faces. A few people ran. The loud boom sounded like, well, a firecracker. Over the radio of the police officer next to me came the frantic announcement: “Explosion at Washington and Sixth!” Except that it wasn’t. Because that was the corner where the officer and I were standing.