Special Notes:

*[any phrase or sentence ]* = The deaf person speaks in sign language only. Please be advised that some words or phrases in the parenthesis, i.e. (to the) or (that is), are omitted that the deaf person doesn’t use those words to communicate with someone else in sign language only.

Example: *[Yes, you (are) right.]* Brian agreed.

{{ any phrase or sentence }} = The hearing person speaks in sign language with his/her voice at the same time.

Example: {{Hi, how can I help you?}} Lisa asked a deaf customer nicely.

***********************

The Station 51’s A-Shift crew had just gotten off from work on the morning of July 4th when the B-Shift took over the shift for the next 24 hours. Once Marco Lopez got home in Venice, he and his longtime girlfriend Margarita Perez started preparing for the Independence Day party. Marco’s mother, Maria Lopez, also helped them out.

Later in the afternoon, Captain Hank Stanley, his wife Bonnie, their teenage son Trevor and his high school girlfriend Ginger were the first ones to arrive at Marco’s house. Chet Kelly, his 20-something girlfriend Sharon, his mother Janice Kelly and her 50-something boyfriend Harry were the next ones to arrive.

Six-foot-four skinny Trevor, who would be turning 17 in 2 months, and Ginger excitedly jumped in the pool and started swimming. Hank and Bonnie chatted with Janice, Sharon, and Harry while Chet helped Marco cooking the BBQ ribs and chicken. Margarita and Maria was busy cooking in the kitchen.

About 30 minutes later, Roy DeSoto, his second wife Mildred, and his 2 children Chris and Jennifer arrived at the party. Mildred’s younger deaf sister Christine Sakahara, her fiancé Ronnie Kaplan, and their 2 deaf friends came along with them. Roy also brought his 8-year-old nephew and 2 nieces, 12 and 10, to keep his kids company. Kent, Heather (12), and Gwen (10) Cunningham were the children of Roy’s younger sister and her husband, who couldn’t make it due to schedule conflicts. The kids started playing with Trevor and Ginger in the swimming pool while Roy, Mildred, Christine, Ronnie, and the 2 deaf guests seated themselves. A few minutes later, Kel Brackett and Dixie McCall arrived at the party and joined the Station 51’s A-Shift members and their families and friends.

“Hi?” Five-foot-one Heather tapped the taller blonde teenage girl’s shoulder.

Five-foot-six Ginger, 16, turned around to look at the sandy-haired girl smiling at her. She smiled back, “Hi.”

“What is your name?”

“Ginger. Yours?”

“Heather. Roy is my uncle.” Heather introduced herself to Ginger, “Are you a relative or friend of the Station 51’s members?”

“Not really.” Ginger shook her head and continued with a smile, “I’m Trevor’s girlfriend. It’s nice to meet you, Heather.” She smilingly shook hands with Heather.

“Nice to meet you, too!” Heather chuckled, looking forward to playing with her new friend.

The girls started chatting forming the beginning of a friendship while Trevor continued playing ball with Chris and Kent. Jennifer and Gwen played with the waterproof dolls.

About a couple of hours and half later, Johnny Gage and Mike Stoker in the same car arrived at Marco’s house. Mike parked his new Mercedes-Benz white car next to the curb across the street. They got out of Mike’s car and entered the party.

“Hey! We’re here!” Johnny smilingly waved to everybody.

Everybody quickly turned around to look at the 2 latecomers and hurried over to greet them. Then, they started picking up the plates and foods for an early dinner.

<> E! <> E! <> E! <>

After they finished eating dinner, Kel and Dixie left the party to go see the fireworks with other friends. The rest in the party was transported in vans to the public park. When they arrived at the park, they got out of the vans and relaxed on the grass, waiting for dusk to come. It was an hour and half before the fireworks started. The crowd of people in the park stood and watched the beautiful fireworks in the dark sky.

Hearing the pops of the firework display in the dark sky, the crowd screamed excitedly. The fireworks turned into different colors, from blue to red, orange to yellow, white to pink, green to turquoise, so on, for about 20 minutes. For the finale, everyone in the crowd saw the biggest, most unique fireworks yet in blue, white, and red. It stated:

Happy Birthday, America!

The firework display with the letters faded into the dark sky. Once the electric lights were turned on, the people had begun walking back to the vehicles and prepared to face the bad traffic jam exiting the park.

<> E! <> E! <> E! <>

The A-Shift members with their families and friends returned to Marco’s backyard. Some of them ate dessert, including the famous strawberry shortcake with whipped cream. The kids were given sparklers for pleasure.

Striking the sparklers, Roy warned the kids, “Remember, they are dangerous, so please be careful, okay?”

The kids nodded. Most of the adults watched the kids holding the sparklers. Marco, Margarita, and Maria were busy cleaning the kitchen. Janice and Harry helped them out. Chet and Sharon cleaned the table in the backyard. Christine, Ronnie, and their deaf friends chatted, sitting at the same table and having drinks.

After the fireworks disappeared, Chris accidentally dropped his sparkler onto the pavement and walked away to the pool. Nobody witnessed what he did. He jumped in the pool with Kent and Trevor. Ginger and Heather joined the boys in the pool. Jennifer and Gwen had started playing the ‘hide and seek’ game.

Jennifer, who would be turning 10 in 3 weeks, knelt and bent her head down by the corner of Marco’s house while Gwen hid herself behind the green bushes next to the corner of the brick wall. A couple of minutes later, barefooted Jennifer got up and started to look for Gwen. Slowly walking, she didn’t pay attention to the pavement, just looking around for Gwen. She then stepped on the burning sparkler.

“Aaaaawwww!!!” Jennifer screamed at the burning pain in her foot. She sat down on the pavement.

Hearing the girl’s scream, everybody in the backyard quickly looked around. Gwen came out of the bushes. Getting up from the chairs, Johnny and Mike hurriedly ran over to Jennifer and knelt down.

Holding Jennifer in his arm and examining her foot with his other hand, Johnny anxiously asked, “What happened?”

“I don’t know.” Jennifer replied, moaning in pain and whimpering, “I think some kid dropped it.” She pointed down at the sparkler, “Right there.”

Johnny and Mike glanced at the burning sparkler, while Roy and Mildred knelt down next to them. Gwen stood behind Roy and Mildred and anxiously watched Jennifer.

“What happened, Jenny?” Roy asked his sandy-haired daughter, worried.

“Are you all right?” Mildred anxiously asked Jennifer.

Pointing down at the sparkler, Johnny motioned with his head and muttered, “Look at it!”

Roy and Mildred glanced down at the burning sparkler and looked up back at Johnny.

“I’ll be right back.” Mildred informed the men, standing up.

Mildred walked into the kitchen and found Marco cleaning the kitchen.

Standing by the door, Mildred cried out, “Marco?”

“Yes?” Marco turned around to look at Mildred.

“I need aloe right now! Jenny burned her foot.” Mildred demanded, her brown eyes opened wide.

Marco nodded, grabbing the hedge shears and paper towels, and hurriedly walked over to meet Mildred. Worried Roy and Mike watched Johnny comforting Jennifer in his arms. Marco cut some aloe leaves and hurriedly ran back to the kitchen, followed by Mildred. He split the aloe leaves with Mildred’s help. They ran back over to Jennifer. Kneeling down, Mildred placed the aloe leaves on Jennifer’s foot and wrapped a bandage around Jennifer’s foot with Roy’s help. Johnny still comforted Jennifer in his arms. Watching them worriedly, Marco stood next to Mike behind Mildred.

“Jenny, I’m going to take you to Rampart Hospital right now, okay?” Mildred informed her step-daughter.

“No, I don’t want to go!” Jennifer cried fearfully.

“I know you’re afraid of going to the hospital, but that’s the best way to get healed.” Mildred told Jennifer, patting Jennifer’s hair with her hand comfortingly.

“She’s right, Jenny.” Roy agreed.

“Roy, I’ll take Jenny to Rampart, okay?” Johnny told his partner and best friend.

“I’m coming with you guys.”

“Don’t worry, honey. Johnny and I will take care of her, okay?” Mildred assured her husband.

“Mike, I’m taking your car to Rampart right now. Mildred and I will take Jenny there. I’ll call you and let you know about her status.” Johnny told his roommate. He paused to take a brief breath and then advised both of Roy and Mike, “Roy, Mike, please check on all the kids and make sure they are wearing shoes, okay?”

“Right!” Roy nodded.

“No problem.” Mike nodded in agreement.

Exiting Marco’s house, Johnny carried Jennifer over to Mike’s car across the street. Mildred hurried over to meet her younger sister and stood by the table, where Christine, Ronnie, and their 2 deaf friends were seated.

{{Jenny got injured. Her foot is hurting, so Johnny and I are going to take her to Rampart Hospital now. I hope we will be back in about 2 hours, okay?}} Mildred informed Christine in a hurried voice with sign language at the same time.

*[Okay, no problem.]* Christine understood, as she was already aware of the incident that she witnessed.

Exiting Marco’s house, Mildred hurriedly ran over to Mike’s car across the street and got in the car. Taking the back seat, she comforted Jennifer in her arms while Johnny drove his roommate’s car to Rampart Hospital.

The kids had finished swimming and got out of the pool. Approaching the kids, Roy and Mike stopped them, followed by Marco, Hank, and Bonnie.

“Mildred and Johnny are taking Jenny to Rampart Hospital because she got injured. She burned her foot when she stepped on a sparkler. Now, I want to know who did it. I mean, who left the sparkler on the ground.” Roy asked the kids in a nice way, trying to control himself.

The kids studied Roy’s worried expression.

“Not me!” Trevor and Ginger answered in unison.

“Not me.” Kent answered, shaking his head.

“Nope,” Heather shook her head and then answered, “I didn’t.”

Chris wasn’t sure how to answer to his father’s question. He hesitated, “Well, I’m not sure.”

Noticing his son’s expression, Roy sensed that his 13-year-old son was probably responsible.

“Did you drop the sparkler on the ground? Huh?” Roy asked his auburn-haired son with a little frown, pointing to where the sparkler had been found.

“I think so, but I didn’t mean it.” Chris answered guiltily.

“Why did you do it?” The sandy-haired father asked, looking very unhappy.

“It was an accident, Dad.” Chris protested.

“Come here now!” Roy signaled for his son to follow him.

The kids, Mike, Marco, Hank, and Bonnie watched Roy take Chris’ hand in his and pull Chris over to where the sparkler had been found.

“All of you, kids, pay attention for a minute, please.” Mike called to the kids, and they turned to look at him. He then warned the kids, “That is why you need to wear shoes.”

“Why?!” Kent asked and shrugged, not understanding.

“It is for your safety. We don’t want any of you to get hurt or burned the way Jenny did.” Marco replied.

“They are right.” Trevor stated in agreement, his hazel eyes widened a little seriously.

“I second the point.” Hank added, glancing at his smart son with a proud smile.

Roy and Chris stood where the sparkler had been dropped.

Pointing down at the sparkler, Roy ordered his son in a low tone, “Pick it up now!”

Chris cautiously picked up the sparkler and studied his father’s upset face.

“Come with me.” Roy instructed his son to follow him.

Roy and Chris walked over to the gravel area where the large trash and recycle cans were located.

“Throw it in the trash can now.” Roy instructed his son, pointing at the trash can. Chris did so. Roy continued, “Next July 4th, I’m NOT going to let you and Jenny to have sparklers anymore. Do you understand me, Chris?”

“Argh!” Chris shrugged in disappointment.

“Chris! Stop it now!” Roy stated sternly, pointing at his son.

“I’m sorry, Dad.” Chris shrugged.

“Okay, but we will talk about it tomorrow.” Roy told his son, a little disappointed.

They walked back and rejoined the A-Shift members and their families and friends.

At 11 o’clock, the Stanley and Kelly families and their guests left Marco’s house and headed home. About another 10 minutes later, Margarita took Marco’s mother home and then headed home. Roy, Mike, Christine, Ronnie, Chris, Heather, Gwen, Kent, and a deaf couple were the guest ones left at Marco’s house, as they stayed in the living room awaiting for Mildred, Johnny, and Jennifer to return from Rampart Hospital. Chris, Heather, Gwen, and Kent became sleepy at about 11:30.

<> E! <> E! <> E! <>

About 12:15, Johnny, Mildred, and Jennifer finally returned. Jennifer’s foot was now wrapped with a white bandage. Johnny carried Jennifer into Marco’s house, followed by Mildred. Hearing the door open, the kids slowly awakened and got up joining the adults. Exhausted everyone happily welcomed them back.

“How are you feeling, Jenny?” Roy worriedly asked his daughter.

“I’m fine, Daddy!” Jennifer smiled at her father.

“I’m glad to hear that.” Roy smiled a little.

“Honey, let’s go home.” Mildred cut in, as hard-of-hearing Ronnie heard her voice and interpreted for Christine and their 2 deaf friends.

Glancing at his wife, Roy agreed, “Yeah, we better go now. It’s getting late.”

Everyone, including the kids, walked out of Marco’s house, followed by Marco. They waved good-byes to each other before the DeSoto family and their guests got in Roy’s big van. Meanwhile, Johnny and Mike got in Mike’s car.

Standing and waving, Marco watched the 2 vehicles leaving his house heading home. Exhausted, he walked into his house and closed the front door.

~ The End ~