The District’s War On The Flophouse has escalated. It started out with fines for trash pile-ups, coupled with a charming refusal to collect our trash. That was back in the spring. We’d seen a cessation of hostilities after that. It turned out to be a mere operational pause. 

On Monday evening I heard what sounded like a garbage truck backing up and some men’s voices directly outside the house. It drove the dogs into a frenzy. When I went outside to investigate, the gentlemen told me they had to do some work on the sewer lines in front of our neighbors’ place. "Will it affect this house?" I asked, pointing to the Flop. No, came the reply.

Walked home yesterday and saw a metal covering extended from my neighbors’ front staircase to the curb. Not a good sign.

At about 7 this morning — in fairness, that’s when I needed to be up, and I overslept, so admittedly this is a caveated complaint — Asgard parked its celestial caravan outside the Flop and started smashing the pavement with Mjolnir, the Hammer of Thor. I live in the basement. That shit sounds like the end of the world. Ragnarok is not a pleasant wake-up call. Emerging to walk the dog, I saw most of our side of the street obstructed by orange cones and construction equipment and a gaping hole in front of next-door. Ominous. 

The District has to know this will come back on them. Am I being baited? Or will they be unprepared for a disproportionate response?