Word: Smithereens

smithereens

[smith-uh-reenz]

plural noun

1. small pieces; bits:

broken into smithereens.

             

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               The small room was surprisingly well lit, considering its purpose.  In fact, it almost looked pleasant.  Not only was it well lit, it was fairly clean and had a fairly decent desk and chairs set up.  All in all, it seemed like any other small business that was just getting started.  Neither Max nor Jim were fooled by the room’s exterior.  The fact that they were led into the room by a man almost as wide as they were tall helped in that department.

                “Customers, boss.”  The big man said in a deep, rumbling voice.  The man sitting behind the desk looked up from whatever he was doing and regarded the two visitors.  The boss was a well dressed man, which was at odds with his otherwise thuggish appearance.

                “Who’re you two with?”  The boss asked.

                “Nobody.  We’re independent.”  Max replied.  The boss’ eyes narrowed as he looked at Max.

                “Okay.”  He said, leaning back in his chair.  “So, what can I get you two?”

“Something that makes a really big boom.”  Jim said.

                “Explosives, huh?  Roy, get Eddie in here.”  The boss said. The big man lumbered out of the room.  “Eddie’s our explosives expert.  He’ll hook you up real good.  Of course, I hope you know nothing here comes cheap, right?”

                “We can pay.”  Max said.  Another long gaze from the boss and he seemed to be satisfied.

                A moment later a thin, wiry man with wild eyes and stringy hair entered the room.  His eyes darted around the room almost at random, never lingering very long in any one spot.  His steps were small and quick as he approached the desk and heaved a large suitcase up onto the desk.

                “These the guys who wanna blow something up?”  Eddie asked in a manic, energetic voice.

                “That’s them.  Show ‘em the good stuff.”  The boss said.

                “Oh goody, yes, I’ve got lots and lots of good stuff.  I’ve got grenades of all kinds, and cocktail mixes and all sorts of fun toys.”  Eddie said as he opened the case.  “I can give you all the good stuff like that, but I think the things I make myself are better.  Like this one.”  He held up a small plastic tube covered with little dimples.  “You throw it and when it hits something it makes a big explosion that makes a lot of little explosions.  It’s so much fun!  Turns whoever it hits from one big person into lots and lots of little person chunks.  Oh, and then I have this one, which…”

                “Uh, we…we’re not really looking for anti-personnel stuff.”  Jim interrupted.  “We’re in the market for a more demolition oriented blast.”

                “Ooohh, that’s even better!  I love demolishing things!  Much bigger explosions, you know.”  Eddie said and immediately started rummaging through the case.  Jim and Max looked at each other, worried that the man’s mad rummaging might set something off.  “I’ve got all the normal stuff.  C4, dynamite, and the like.  But the real fun stuff is my own stuff.  Here, look at this one.”

                He held up a block of green-brown plastic for the two of them to see.  Max stepped forward a bit to get a better look at it, but didn’t dare touch the thing.

                “It’s like a bigger version of that other one.  It makes a big explosion, and then lots and lots of little ones.  All that’s left will be little, tiny bits of whatever it was attached to.  It’s so much fun hearing all the booms going off like that.  It really is.  Oh, but here’s my favorite.”  This time he held up a bright red block.  “I call this one the Magician, because it makes everything in its blast range disappear.  And it makes such a satisfying ka-boom.  Nothing else like it, I promise you that.  Oh-oh, how about one that leaves this really cool green powder behind.  It glows in the dark, you know.  So much fun watching that stuff go everywhere.  Just like the building it’s attached to!  It blows up, and then glows green for a week.”

                “Uh, I think we’ll take that first one.”  Max said.  With a silent look at each other, both men had decided on that one, if only to prevent them from hearing any more of Eddie’s creations.  “We need about five pounds of it, if that’s okay.”

                “Only five?”  Eddie asked.  He seemed disappointed by the amount.  “Why not ten?  Fifteen is enough to level most buildings, so why not get fifteen?”

                “Uh, no, five will be more than enough for what we need to use it for.”

                “Really?  Are you sure?” Eddie asked again with large, pleading eyes.

                “You heard the man, Eddie.”  The boss said.  “Five pounds, and only five.  Get it ready.”  Eddie nodded, closed the suitcase and started out of the room.  He muttered something about small booms as he left.  “Now then, gentlemen, let’s talk price.”

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Remember kids, explosions might be cool in movies and video games, but they're not so great in real life.  Well, except for the fireworks kind.  Those are cool.  But only when handled by people who know what they're doing. 

Oh, and I'll just leave this here, just for fun.