[Richard Kimball]

Kissel shuffled forward, punk in hand, and made several futile passes at the fuse, the magnificent bomb emaining aloof and cool throughout. With each pass the crowd retreated, and then, with the inevitability of Greek drama, in the muttering silence the telltale hiss sounded forth clear and unmistakable. The fuse was lit!"

Immediately the assemblage rolled back in a mighty wave, turned and waited while Kissel continued to attempt to light the fuse, totally unaware that time was growing short. Someone called out:

"Kissel! Hey Kissel, for God's sake, it's lit!"

Kissel raised his head questioningly and said:

"What's lit?"

The ominous hiss continued ...

.

That is a great story. There's nothing quite like drunks playing with fireworks.

[Nihil Obstat]

They did make a movie about that and some of his other stories. It was on PBS in the early 80's. Matt Dillon played the young Jean Shepherd. Great show.

"The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084022/