After working hard and being busy all year round, everyone looked forward to those few days of celebration. They were not allowed to set off fireworks? Even Eric found it hard to believe.

"Who would have thought?" Brook said, "Places selling fireworks are being patrolled, and people are too scared to display them. Even the pyrotechnician who used to come to our house a few years ago is no longer in Salt City.

"The directive is out—no fireworks are allowed anywhere in the province. If caught, t