It's a sign of how Max has matured that Grim and Gram don't need to accompany him to the Fourth of July fireworks this year. And the biggest sign of Max's maturity is his ability to form a friendship with Kevin. Max's grandparents are undoubtedly pleased to know that he appears to have a real life friend, something he's never really had before. This means that they can step back a little and let Max start to do more things by himself, which is an important and necessary stage on the road to adulthood.
Although if Grim and Gram knew what was going to happen at the fireworks display—the town hoodlum Tony D insulting and throwing rocks at Max and Kevin—they may not have been quite so enthusiastic at the idea. In any case, they needn't have worried, as Tony D made a complete fool of himself and ended up needing to be rescued by his fellow gang members after he got trapped in some mud.
Although Max has been allowed to go to the millpond on his own for a few years, Grim and Gram don't let him go alone on the Fourth of July. On the Fourth of July, the fireworks are set off by the millpond and many people attend.
This year is different. This year, Max does not have to go with Grim and Gram because he is going with Freak instead.
Gram says the two of them going together will be good because "she's afraid he'll get crushed or something." Max doesn't end up preventing Freak from being trampled, but when the punk Tony D. starts accosting them, Freak is able to climb on Max's shoulders. Later, the police officers call Max a hero for saving Freak, which Max thinks is weird because he feels like Freak's brain saved them. Freak and Max going to the fireworks together is good because they are able to protect each other.
It's also worth considering that Max does not have friends, so Gram is probably happy that this year Max has a friend to go with instead of his grandparents.
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