Every year, during puasa and hari raya, we heard news about kids who lost their limbs or were injured because of bunga api (firecrackers). Every year, without fail. And every time I heard about these things, my only comment is “Padan muka!” (serves you right). I have no sympathy for blatant stupidity.

In The Star Online today, “Boy loses three fingers in firecrackers blast.” The bunga api, which this 13-year-old boy creatively strung together, exploded before he could light them. Heh, padan muka! Don’t expect any sympathy from me. My only sympathy lies with the parents whose Hari Raya celebration was ruined because of him.

What is it about firecrackers that turned these kids into geniuses (read, moron) and absolutely had to get creative and did something that invariably made them regret why they did that thing in the first place? Excitement? An annoyingly louder explosion? As if a single firecracker is not loud and annoying enough. Sense of danger? Hah! Danger, my ass!

I’m sure that the parents gave them warnings enough about the danger of bunga api. My parents and siblings were quite vocal about it when my niece and nephews played with bunga api. Naturally, kids being kids, they hardly listened. I couldn’t be bothered, of course. Except when the noise was too loud for my ears. Since warnings are not enough to stop them, then the only thing left is to learn it the hard way. Personal experience is a very good teacher, don’t you agree? Guaranteed 100% effective.

Whatever it is, I’m sure the kid has his mind-opening lesson and will think more than twice about getting creative with bunga api in the future.

Other kids? I seriously doubt it. Somehow they have this absolute sense of invincibility that these things will never happen to them. Until those bunga api exploded right in front of their faces, of course. Almost made me wish I was there to witness it. But then again.. I couldn’t be bothered.