In a continuing demonstration of the hornet principle, the sound of Pietro's roommate related misfortunes were apparently overhead by the tenants in the apartment below. And, today, when I was helping Pietro carry some groceries upstairs, one of the downstairs neighbors in question poked her head out and told him she had a favor to ask. Apparently, her little sister keeps letting boys walk all over her, and she wanted to teach her how to deal with inconsiderate boys. And, since there's a boy handy who's not a complete stranger to corporal punishment, she was wondering if he could be her...shall we say...teaching assistant.

Pietro was ambivalent, but when I promised to bring the rest of the groceries up by myself in exchange for a front row seat...well, he might have started regretting it after the paddle came out, but I certainly didn't.