the wiz

The noble Heelers walking through the snowscape in the town of Naas.

Naas is the commercial capital of the region where I live.

Precious few of the traders here are inclined to do anything so menial as shovel snow.

Someone else will clear it.

So the pavements are covered.

I trudge along.

Ahead of me two grinning teenagers lurk in a doorway.

They are clutching snowballs.

I favour them with my famous Paddington Bear stare.

"If you throw one snowball at me I'll break your faces," I snarl pleasantly.

Dude and Duder nod grinnily.

I pass on by.

A few yards up the street, the first snowball thuds into the small of my back.

Then another hits my head.

Then.

Thud, thud, thunch, thunch, thud, thud, thunch.

I keep walking.

I always think the greatest crimes are the crimes against human dignity.

Particularly mine.