The Joyful Results Of Ear-wigging

I overheard a wonderful story today. It was being told confidentially, but as I was eavesdropping, and therefore it wasn’t being told to me directly, I don’t feel bound by the contract of secrecy, and it’s fine for me to pass it on to you... right???
The story involves a couple that I will call Jack and Sandra. It was their tenth wedding anniversary last month, and they decided to have a big celebration at home. Sandra, a good old homely Norfolk gal, said that her parents always used to have indoor fireworks on her birthday, and she hadn’t seen them for years, and wouldn’t it be nice to have them on their special day?
“Say no more,” said Jack, “leave it to me. You take care of the food and drink, and I’ll take care of the fireworks.” And so, on the day before Hallowe’en, they sat down to a sumptuous meal and a bottle of champagne, and then moved on to the entertainment. Unfortunately, Jack didn’t realise ‘indoor fireworks’ isn’t the same thing as ‘using fireworks indoors…’ He set off a Catherine Wheel in the kitchen, and burnt the house down. Now, as a result, they’re living with her sister. Well, she is - he’s now living on his workmates sofa….

RC 28-11-11