It was almost midnight when he got near the meeting point. The Square was crowded. His friends said that they were going to be standing on the second archway from the left, but he didn’t saw any familiar face. The thought of spending the midnight alone, surrounded by a tonne off strange people fell on his mind, after all, there were only seven minutes left for the end of the show, and the beginning of the firework. Never mind that, give us a hug”, and they gave him the most warm and joyful hug a human being can get, and in the middle of kisses and hugs the first rocket exploded as the countdown reached zero. Tones of yellow, blue and orange filled the sky.
Before all communications failed a message informed him that the group was near the stage so he pierced the swarm of people trying to get close. Time was counting, five minutes left till midnight and he still didn’t found anyone. All people started preparing the celebration: the new-year hats, the champagne bottles, the raisins, the confetti cannons, the sparklers and the cameras. At this time, the big screen was announcing twenty seconds left, and with the blink of an eye it changed to ten. Everybody was ready for the countdown but him. He resigned himself of toasting and seeing the firework alone as the countdown was taking place with the whole crowd shouting. “Ten… nine… eight… seven”, until someone grabbed his arm and called his name: “Edward… Hey Eddie over here!... What took you so long? Never mind that, give us a hug”, and they gave him the most warm and joyful hug a human being can get, and in the middle of kisses and hugs the first rocket exploded as the countdown reached zero. Tones of yellow, blue and orange filled the sky. Everybody smile while admiring the pyrotechnic, some of the sparks crossing above like shooting stars, and then a new one exploded, and then another, and another, and another, and then dozens rockets exploded dividing into millions sparks falling like a rain of fire, at the same time the industrial speakers were transmitting Ludwig 9th Symphony “Ode to Joy”. It lasted ten minutes…. ten minutes of magic and he thought: how can someone despise this worldly things and misprize this celebration by saying “it’s just another day”.
Corks mixed with tiny multicolored papers were launched everywhere, people were seen hugging even though they were strange to one another, and some were crying too… of happiness. It was time to kick 2016 behind and embrace the new one.
One of his friends looked at him with her clear and shining eyes saying “This is for you. You deserve it for the impish year you had. The next one will be better... i ensure you“ to which he responded, “Its ours… it's our night… let’s celebrate our successes and support us in our need, let us always be drunk together… happy new year.
El Patronito o Ardina
