It was the Independence Day celebration in a village north of Seacouver, where local families gathered to watch the yearly fireworks display over a small inland lake. Neighbors were gathering with blankets and chairs, coolers and strollers, as the nighttime festivities were getting ready to start.

The two men sat on the beach, their faces reflecting the crayon-box colors of the summer sunset. In front of them, a young boy frolicked with a stray puppy, raising great clouds of sand wherever they went as only a boy and a dog can.

The younger man with the rowdy hair and pewter eyes watched the boy with both affection and alertness. The child called out to him as he flew by with his new faithful companion,

"Watch me, Dad; I can jump off that ledge like Superman!"

He sailed over the small sand dune with the dog in hot pursuit and the two tumbled over each other in merry abandon. Connor sat up to make sure the boy was all right and then settled back down in the canvas chair.

He looked over at his friend, his kinsman, his brother, and watched his dark eyes belie the casual slouch and carefree pose he hoped to display.

Looking back out to the darkening sky he spoke offhandedly, "John was so excited when you invited us to the fireworks."

He was interrupted by the boy flying into his lap. The sandy-wet child snuggled so close to Connor's chest that he could feel the child's heart racing from his wild romp. The dog sat at his feet and licked the water from his knees. This brought bubbles of laughter from the boy and he kissed his dad and ran off with the dog once again.

"Why so quiet, Duncan?" Connor asked as he brushed the sand from his shirt and chair. He asked the question though he doubted there would be an answer. He let the words hang in the air as he often did when shadows crossed his kinsman's face. The silence was warm between them and often spoke more than words could.

And besides he knew the answer, as well as he knew Duncan, as well as he knew himself. What the flares of fire and racket raining down from the sky meant to them or to any veteran of any war were different than what it meant to a child or to someone who did not know.

As he looked out on the revelry around them, as he watched his child playing, he spoke softly, almost to himself, "There will always be those who have borne the heavy burden for freedom or principles or ideology and they will always walk among us silently. They know, you and I know, that the celebration isn't in the boisterous thunder and lightning of battle, but in the unassuming peace and stillness of a cease fire."

Once again there was an explosion of boy and dog and now another child, grinning with a sun-kissed face and the typical gap-toothed grin of a six year old.

"Dad, this is Devin and he has sparklers and his dad said I could share with him can I please can I?" John breathlessly ran his introduction, his question and his pleas all together.

"May I...." Connor automatically answered as he quickly appraised the other child standing in front of him. "You'll have to put on a shirt and long pants and your shoes. Have Duncan help you while Devin and I go talk to his dad."

Connor got up and reached his hand out to Devin and they walked together on the darkening beach.

With Duncan's help, John wriggled impatiently into his clothes chattering all the while, "I love fireworks. When will they start? Will there be spinners and that kind that whistle? I wish I could whistle like that. How long will they be? Will there be a grand finale?"

Just then, a loud BOOM filled the air.

Duncan stiffened involuntarily and he looked to see if John noticed. The child put both his hands on Duncan's face for just a moment and his large dark eyes stared quizzically into the man's soul. And then with a "WHOOP!! They must be starting!" he was off to find his dad.

Connor explained that it was just a firecracker and that the boys had time for about three sparklers before the show started and then they needed to be sitting with their families so they would be safe.

Connor watched as the boys ran with the sparklers and wrote swirls and circles and their names in the night air. He showed them how to put the burned out ones in a tin can so no one would step on them and then they thanked Devin and his family and started walking back.

"Why doesn't Uncle Duncan like the fireworks, Dad?" John asked.

Connor smiled at his child's intuitive kindliness. "Maybe they remind him of scary moments or sad times, son. How does the anthem go~~ 'The rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air'? I think Duncan remembers those rockets and bombs and what they can really do."

"But, why did he invite us then? He didn't have to do that."

"No, he didn't but he loves you, John, and he knows you love fireworks." The child was thoughtful as they walked hand in hand back to their spot on the dark beach. Just then the sky lit up with colors and crackles. Streaks of lightning scratched across the heavens as the explosions rumbled right into the pit of his stomach and he giggled with anticipation and snuggled deep into his father's arms.

It was from that safe haven that he noticed the dog he had played with earlier. The carefree pup was now cowering and whimpering under the blazing sky.

John got up and gathered the dog in his arms and put him in Duncan's lap. "He's scared, Uncle Duncan. Can you hold him?"

Duncan stroked the trembling puppy and his strong arms and soothing murmurs created a sanctuary for the critter. He smiled as the dog licked his hand and fell asleep in his lap and then he sat back and watched the show.

Connor kissed his child's head as he clambered back up in his lap. And the four of them watched the lights dance and flash in the July sky.