SQUALL

The long winter was the cause.

He hit the snow plow driver with a shovel. He cut the man’s brow deeply over his left eye.

A neighbor said:

“Incidents like this don’t usually occur in this neighborhood.”

Another said:

“With all the problems in this world—the war, the terrorism, the plague … why are we trying to kill each other over moving snow properly? Why can’t we all get along? This is not that type of neighborhood. This is the safest city in Massachusetts. Why don’t people think about what they’re doing?”

A third neighbor said:

“What I fear most is that there are two more storms on the way. It’ll only get worse before it improves. It’s really just a matter of time.”

What I’m Reading:

“Anyone could be an idiot or a jerk, separately, but the combination of ignorance and meanspiritedness—that was special.”

— Jean Hanff Korelitz / The Plot