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+---
+title: The Basement Window Non-Miss
+---
+
+It was as if the dark-side forces were really miffed that I had escaped
+the shame of shattering a very expensive picture widow in my last
+misadventure. They plotted to get even with me on a different occasion
+not too far in the future. Lori and I now lived in the homestead house
+on 29th avenue. My interest in rockets had not diminished. I still
+dabbled in both fireworks and rocketry. I was a bit more cautious about
+conducting tests, as least as far as trying to diminish the risk to
+human beings. But the risks to houses and windows was alas, still
+considerable, as you will soon see.
+
+My reputation as a firebug had grown within the circle of my
+acquaintances in the Ridgefield Ward. I now had a young protege whose
+name was Alex Zwingly. He was the 15-year-old son of good friends of
+ours in the ward. I was quite delighted to take him under my wing and
+teach him all the fascinating knowledge of the pyrotechnic arts I had
+acquired over the years. I suppose the best lesson I taught him was that
+the hobby is dangerous and perhaps not worth the consequences of the
+inevitable accidents.
+
+On this occasion, we had planned to do yet another static test firing of
+a black power rocket motor. I tried to be prepared for the unexpected. I
+constructed a blast shield of sorts, behind which Alex and I would stand
+as we ignited the rocket motor. The test stand was mounted on a table
+placed in the back yard, a good 30 yards from the East-facing side of
+the house. Our launch pad control center was located about 20 feet away
+from the test stand. This was where the shield was located. It consisted
+of a piece of plywood to which I had attached a piece of plexiglass. The
+plywood was mounted vertically, with the plexiglass on the top edge, so
+that Alex and I could view the test stand through the plexiglass window.
+Thus, we would be protected from any deadly bits of flying debris in the
+event that the motor over-pressured and exploded. Again, I was feeling a
+tad-bit overconfident that my high-tech blast shield would prevent all
+manner of consequences from any mishaps due to the test-firing. What
+could possibly go wrong??
+
+Well, Alex pressed the ignition button and the rocket roared into life.
+All went well for about 58 milliseconds. Then, there was a nice loud
+POW, followed by the unmistakable sound of breaking glass. The motor had
+indeed over-pressured, but it didn't exactly explode. Apparently, the
+clay nozzle of the rocket motor had been ejected out of the rocket motor
+tube, just like a cannon ball. I suppose it was a good example of the
+law of averages. All the incredible good luck I had had during past
+disasters had finally run out. The clay nozzle managed to sail all the
+way over to the house and took out one of the basement windows. At least
+it only broke one of the outer storm-window panes. The inner windowpane
+was still intact, so the damage wasn't so severe that the TV room in
+the basement was exposed to the elements. The window is still broken to
+this day, another testament to my lack of foresight. Who knew that I had
+constructed a mortar shell instead of a properly functioning rocket
+motor?? Oh, well.... Alex thought it was all great fun and excitement.
+He will have a great story to tell his grandchildren someday. At least,
+no one could say I was derelict in my efforts to protect life and limb.
+Our high-tech blast shield worked perfectly to keep us safe during the
+explosion.