Jarod had never been to the country before. His grandparents had always visited him in the city.

"You'll like it," said his dad. "Why, when I was your age, I liked nothing better than catching grasshoppers on your grampa's farm, and watching the lightning bugs come out at night."

"Lightning bugs?" Jarod's eyes opened wide. He'd been a city boy all his life. Maybe that was safer, if there were bugs that caused lightning in the country.

The trip to grampa's farm was long. He felt bored, until Dad thought of the cow-counting game. At first there were hardly any cows. By the time they reached Grandpa's farm, there were more than Jarod could count.

"You're driving too fast, Dad! I can’t count the cows!" 

Dad chuckled. "Don't you want to get there?"

Jarod hesitated. He pulled Ted, his stuffed bear, closer. Not that he was scared of bugs that caused lightning. Or thunderstorms, for that matter. But he didn't want Ted to be scared.

"About lightning bugs, Dad..."

"Yes?"

"Are they... dangerous?"

"Goodness, no. Of course not! They're just bugs."

That didn't help. Dad always said storms weren't dangerous, either, but Jarod -- that is, Ted -- always got scared of them. The lightning would make bright, sudden flashes across the sky, the thunder boomed, and the wind and rain sounding like they wanted to knock things down.

He imaged a big, big bug flying above the clouds, flapping its wings. Every once in awhile, it would shoot down a streak of light, making Jarod and Ted jump.

Jarod swallowed.

"Dad. I don't know if I want to watch any lightning-bugs."

"Oh?" Dad laughed. "Do you have something better to do?"

Jarod shrugged. "Maybe." Maybe he and Ted would be hiding under a bed somewhere, with his flashlight turned on.

"I can hardly believe you've never seen a lightning bug," said Dad. "They're so pretty when they light up the back yard."

Jarod pulled Ted closed, and shuddered. 

Dad didn't notice. He was looking at the road so he could drive safely. "They're also called fireflies. Just wait until you see one."

Jarod's eyes grew wide. Fire flies? This was getting worse and worse! Now Jarod pictured a huge bug as big as a dog, flying low over the ground, starting fires everywhere it went.

How could Dad think that was beautiful? 

Maybe it's just called that, thought Jarod. But why would anyone name something a firefly if it didn't start fires, or a lightning bug if it didn't make lightning?

He stared out at the passing cows, forgetting to count them, and wondering how Dad could take him to somewhere as dangerous as the country.

*****

Jarod loved the country. Grampa's farm was awesome. Jarod spent all day running around the huge, green farm, playing with the gentle dog, and eating Gramma's wonderful, amazing apple and cherry pies.

At supper, Dad said, "Eat your vegetables." 

Gramma said, "Aw, let the boy enjoy himself." 

And Grampa said, "French fries are a vegetable!"

Instead of arguing, Dad just laughed!

It was a wonderful, wonderful day. Jarod forgot all about the lightning bugs. Until --

"Jarod!" called his dad. "Come out and see the lightning bugs!"

Oh no! Jarod froze on the kitchen floor where he'd been petting the dog. He looked around for Ted. Was it too late to hide?

The screen door creaked as Dad pushed it open. "Jarod? Come on." He motioned for Jarod to come out.

Jarod dragged his feet across the smooth kitchen floor, and slowly took Dad's hand.

"That-a-boy," said Dad. "Come watch."

He led Jarod out onto the porch where Grampa sat on the porch swing, which was gently moving. The setting sun turned the sky pinkish-red -- and all around, in the gathering dusk, little yellow lights blinked on and off.

"See?" said Dad. "Lightning bugs!"

"Fireflies," said Grandpa, creaking on the porch swing.

Dad laughed, and gave Jarod's hand a little shake. "Yep, fireflies."

"Wow!" Jarod's eyes were growing larger and larger. "They're really cool!"

Jarod tore his gaze away from the fireflies and lightning bugs to look up at his dad. "But, Dad, why are they named that? They're not making storms or starting fires."

Dad blinked. "Of course not. Whatever gave you that idea?"

"I thought, because of the names.... Why do they have such silly names?"

Dad laughed, and knelt down beside Jarod. "Sometimes words don't make a lot of sense. What do you think they should be called?"

Jarod thought for a moment, frowning with concentration. Then he smiled. "I know! They should be called flashlight bugs!"

Grandpa and Dad laughed. "The kid's got something there," said Grandpa.

"Can we catch them, Dad?" said Jarod. "Can we?"

"Of course! Run ask your grandma for a jar."

"Here you go," said Grandma, bending down in the kitchen and handing Jarod a large, heavy, glass jar that used to hold grape jelly. "Thanks, Grandma!" He ran outside.

He caught one -- it landed on his hand, and he held it close to his face. As he looked, the small, soft insect turned on. The back half of it glowed with soft, yellow light that made part of Jarod's hand glow, too. It was cool to the touch, and didn’t burn his hand at all.

Dad was right. It wasn't scary. It was wonderful!

"I'm catching more than you!" called Dad. Dad scooped bugs out of the air with his big hands, far above Jarod's head. 

Jarod ran and leaped and jumped, catching the glowing insects that flew above him, and hunkering down to get the softly glowing ones that stood on grass blades. 

Even Grampa came down and helped.

"Careful, don't hold them too hard or you'll crush them," said Dad.

"Oh," said Jarod. His face crumpled. "I think I already held one too hard."

"It's all right." Dad, patted his shoulder. "It was an accident. Now you know to be more careful."

"I'll help you put them in the jar," said Grandpa, unscrewing the lid. “That’ll make it easier.”

Grandma came to the door, wiping her hands on a towel. The light spilled out around her, making her look like a shape cut out of dark paper. "Don't stay out too late," she said.

Dad and Grandpa looked at Jarod. "I think someone's getting tired," said Dad.

"I'm not tired," Jarod said, covering a yawn.

"All right, just a few minutes more," said Dad.

Soon the glass jar was filled with bright, flashing insects. They flew, and sat on the sides, flashing on and off like a hundred tiny, pulsing flashlights. The light was soft, yellowish, and very pretty. Jarod held the jar up. He sighed.

"This is the best day ever." He looked up at Dad. "Can I keep them? Can I keep them forever?" He imagined them going on and off all night, keeping him and Ted company.

Dad knelt down, and put a hand on his shoulder. "They need to go back to flying. They have important bug things to do."

Jarod frowned, and looked at the ground. "But I like them."

"If you keep them too long, they'll die. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

Jarod shook his head. But he still frowned. "Ted didn't get to see them."

Dad clapped Jarod on his back. "Why don't you run get Ted, and Grandma, and we'll all let the bugs go together."

"Okay!" Jarod ran back to the house. He returned, pulling Grandma by the hand, and dragging Ted behind him. Dad and Grandpa stood on the porch, holding the jar.

"Ready?" said Dad. He held the jar out to Jarod. “You can do the honors.”

Jarod drew in a deep breath, and took the jar. Carefully, frowning with concentration, he opened the jar. The lid squeaked slightly as he twisted it off.

The lightning bugs glowed. Several of them flew out of the jar. Others climbed the glass walls.

Jarod came back and stood beside his dad and grandparents. He left Ted sitting next to the jar, so he could get a better view.

It was completely dark now, but Jarod didn't feel afraid. Dad put a hand on his shoulder. "Look!" He pointed to the sky.

The flashlight bugs were rising, slowly flying up in a column of softly glowing blinks. 

It was the coolest thing Jarod had seen in his whole, entire life.

I'm glad we let them go, Jarod decided. 

They were prettier, and happier, than they would have been in his room. 

"Goodbye, flashlight bugs!" he called, raising his voice, suddenly afraid they wouldn't be able to hear him. He waved hard. "Goodbye!"

They flew high into the sky, back to their bug business. 

Jarod couldn't be sure, but he thought they blinked goodbye.