Username: Wolffy Paws
Name: Hope
Gender: Female
Gender for breeding purposes: Female
How they got their jacket: It was the 5th of November* and Hope was preparing the fireworks in a field. The 5th of November is a big day and she was asked to prepare the fireworks for her town! Besides it being Bonfire Night, it was also her birthday, and her step-brother from far away, Naktis, was coming to celebrate with her. She wondered if he even knew what Bonfire Night was. Maybe. Trying to focus on the job, she shook her head and thought "No, stop it Hope! You have to focus on the task ahead! This is important!". So she continued separating the fireworks into groups. "Screaming Rockets" in one box, "Glitter Explosions" in another, and there were so many other fun, wacky names. Reading the firework names brought joy to Hope, and she giggled at a few. She put down a few sticks for the rocket-type fireworks and put down a crate full of stones to light the other fireworks in. She enjoyed putting them in crates of stones, especially if the stones were grey. Hope had absolutely no clue why, but she did. In the corner of her eye, she saw her box full of "Super Sizzling Stars". "Hmm, they seem like they'd be good to start the show off." she muttered to herself as she put three of them into the "stone crate" as she had decided to call it.
All of a sudden, she noticed a figure running towards her. She could tell that it was her step-brother because of the lights on his antlers and tail. He wore those all the time. Unfortunately, the glow was not strong enough to allow Hope to figure out what the flappy thing Naktis was holding was, so she picked up her torch (flashlight) she was using and shone it at him instead of her and her boxes. It turned out he was holding a jacket, which had a glittery red viscet on it and two sewn on badges, like the scout ones. One of a paw, one of a bone. Naktis was soon close enough for Hope to hear him pant. "Are you okay?" she asked, The reply was "Yeah, apart from the fact that I had to talk to strangers to find out where you are. You know I hate that. I'm lucky I only had to talk to five. I was talking to strangers on the street! I also knocked on a door and that person happened to know where you are, and asked if I could give this to you." Naktis held out the jacket as he continued, "Anyway, what in the world are you doing!?! Setting up fireworks in November!" Hope sighed. "I didn't expect you to know. It's for Bonfire Night, which you obviously don't know of. Look it up on Google or something later because I don't feel like explaining. She received a look that said "I'm totally and utterly confused but okay I guess", There was an awkward silence before Naktis asked "Why is there a bone on your jacket?". Hope, who had zoned out completely for a second, suddenly seemed to come back to Earth. "Wha-? Oh, that. In this town we really care about dogs. Nearly all of us have one. Anybody who comes here is probably leaving their's at home. The only dog that actually doesn't mind them is Charles! Same story applies for that paw, really." The response was "Oh okay. What's the jacket even for?" Another sigh came from the mouth of Hope as she answered "It's so everyone can tell I'm handling or have handled the town's firework show. I really like this, actually. I might wear it every day!"
Soon people were crowded in the field. Some were watching the wooden Guy Fawkes burn, others were queuing up at the food stalls and some were just talking to each other. Just four more minutes until she was supposed to set the fireworks off. Three. Two. One. Somebody using a megaphone shouted "LAAAAAAAAAAAdies and gentlemennnn, the firework show will soon be starting, so get ready for some absolutely dazzling sparkles flying down from the air! It's about to get LOOUUUD in here!" Naktis stood frozen for a second. "L-l-loud?" he stammered. "Don't worry Naktis, these will help!" replied Hope as she held out a pair of headphone looking things. "What are those!?" asked Naktis. The answer was "Ear-defenders, builders use them sometimes. They block out some sound so it'll just sound like banging your fingers on a table." so he put them off. Soon there stood an uncomfortable looking Naktis with the ear defenders on awkwardly in front of his antlers, next to a cheerful viscet with a jacket on who was about to set off some fireworks.
The crowd gasped at the beautiful "Super Sizzling Stars" as they flew into the sky and burst out into crackling, 5-pointed stars. They ooh-ed at the "Twirling Fizzes" as the green streaks shot into the air and spun round and round. There were aahs as the "Glitter Explosions" jumped until they touched the sky, and, when they did, they each exploded into sparks of different colors. Everybody was amazed by the "Rainbow Magics" as they did their dance in the air and switched between red and indigo when they were about to fade. Lots of people jumped when the "Screaming Rockets" where launched and the same with the "Squealing Shooting Stars". The show was a great success!
A relieved Naktis finally took the ear defenders off and, as uncomfortable as they were, they still worked. People started heading home and waving their goodbyes to friends, whereas some stayed in line for food they still wanted. Eventually, only Hope, Naktis, the viscet handling the bonfire (which was being put out and the wooden Guy Fawkes had burnt to ash),everybody who was selling food and the viscet on the megaphone, who was also the one who had organized the whole thing. "Well done everybody! This went really well! I hope you enjoy your jackets. I've also got a bit of money to pay you, if you come to the gate you can get it! I know I didn't say I'd pay you before, but you deserve something for your help!" They all went to the gate, apart from Naktis, who decided he'd wait until they moved so that he wouldn't have to talk to anyone. Everyone got £5 (this is in Britain), apart from Naktis again. "Hey! You, over there! Why are you standing all the way over there?" came a voice through the megaphone. "I-I I'm just a relative of Hope's s-so I'm just waiting h-here." shouted Naktis nervously. "Okay. I've got a little change in my pocket, £2, d'ya want it?" came the voice from the megaphone, again. A shaky voice replied "O-okay, th-thanks. I don't know what I'll buy with it, I'm not from this country and I don't know how much things cost." "Buy ya-self a nice couple 'o chocolate bars or something." suggested the megaphone viscet as Naktis shuffled towards him. The megaphone viscet held out two gold coins. A shaking white and blue paw reached out and grabbed them.
Everyone was home now. Hope sat on her couch with some hot cocoa whilst her step-brother made himself some. He sat on the floor nearby her before telling her "I've got you a couple of presents." Excitedly, Hope bounced up, almost spilling her drink. She clambered up the stairs and opened her presents. She got stuffed animals and glittery things, but her favorite thing was a glittery red viscet toy like the one on her jacket.
Soon Naktis was asleep in the guest room. Hope was awake. She lay in her bed thinking to herself "Best. Day. Ever!"
*The 5th of November is also known ask "Bonfire Night", "Firework Night" or "Guy Fawkes Night". It is a celebration (mainly celebrated in Britain) were you have a bonfire and put a model of somebody called Guy Fawkes in it (explained later) and there are also fireworks. The fireworks are set off because they contain gunpowder, and Guy Fawkes used gunpowder to try and explode the Houses of Parliament in 1605, which he (and the other members of the Gunpowder Plot) are notorious for. They failed.
[1,377 words including 5th of November information]
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