Your Red Caps Make You Look Stupid

a short short story

When we were little, and by “we” I mean boys, we would buy rolls of explosive caps that we could take a hammer to, or place them in our toy guns, the manufacturers were so eager for us to get our hands on. It was hands-on education, and boys were dying to learn, starting with those explosive red caps, but often ending in war or another tragedy.

But Mama was wise. She knew the score, and would often repeat: “Your red caps make you look stupid.” So I stopped. But it kinda bemusing, now that she is gone, how often the thought comes to mind.