Booms, Laws, and 911: Ella’s Fourth of July Call
Fireworks + autism = not always a match made in heaven.
Ella—my brilliant, literal, and hilariously rule-bound daughter—does not enjoy the Fourth of July. Not because of the history or the hot dogs. But because of the “booms.”
A few years ago, neighborhood fireworks had been going off for days before the actual holiday. Ella was fed up. She was anxious. And she was determined to restore order to the universe.
So what did she do?
She called 911.
Yes. *911.*
Calm as ever, she told the dispatcher:
“You know, Officer, it’s illegal to shoot fireworks in Kansas City, Missouri, and they are doing in broad daylisht, in the middle of the day.”
(I mean, she wasn’t wrong.)
I found out when the officer called me back. I was terrified we’d get in trouble for a false report. But instead, the officer—clearly holding back a laugh—said:
“That’s a very insightful young lady you’ve got there. Let’s just teach her about the non-emergency line.”
So now, every Fourth of July, we tell the story of Ella and the Fireworks Violation Hotline That Wasn’t.
It makes us laugh—and it reminds us that autism, while sometimes stressful, often comes with moments of absolute comedic brilliance.
### 💡 A Friendly Note:
For many kids with autism, fireworks aren’t fun. They’re loud, overwhelming, and unpredictable. If you can, limit home fireworks and be mindful of your neighbors. Sometimes kindness looks like quiet.
