“Hey, Larry!” shouts my neighbor as I take out the trash yesterday evening. “Where are your fireworks?”

“People shouldn’t be setting off fireworks in residential neighborhoods,” I reply. “They scare cats and dogs.”

“But you’re not scared,” he reasoned.

“No, but the cats and dogs are. And what about combat veterans who are suffering from PTSD?” I didn’t even bother pointing out that fireworks are also illegal in Massachusetts.

I don’t use this sort of language, but Barbara mentions a 7-letter word beginning with A.