Author's Commentary: Rounding Error

My father told me this story gave him Mickey Spillane vibes, especially this line: "...the boss’s nephew stepped inside with the self-importance of someone who’d never been hit hard enough to second-guess a thought." It was one of the highest compliments I have ever received. That line also happens to be one of my favorites.

This entire story, which, if you haven't read it, you can read HERE, is all about dealing with incompetence and nepotism at work. Sure, the accountant is siphoning money from unsavory characters. Technically, that puts the nephew in the right. But I think the boss's opinion of his own nephew tells you what an albatross the kid was to the whole racket.

Anyway, the reason I really love that line is because it's based on something someone said to me once. I won't name him here, but he knows who he is if he happens past this. He was my boss, and he could be a real prick. Both to the staff and the customers, but he always got away with it.

I considered him a friend at one point and earnestly asked him why he felt he could be that way. What he responded with was both wonderful introspection and a real asshole thing to say.

"Honestly, Dan, I think it's because I've never been punched in the face for how I act."

He ended up blowing up our entire friend group with his actions, so the introspection didn't really lead him anywhere. I guess I share all of this to say I kind of imagined him as a nepo-hire by an uncle who didn't even like him, sent to suck at crime. Which, by the way, crime isn't that difficult.

The rest of the story is more or less every competent employee's fantasy: getting to take out the guy who slows you down and causes you grief, with no repercussions for the action.

It's also a study in how feral someone can get when cornered. No one would expect an accountant to fight back against someone well-connected and armed. And I do think there's something there with this weird societal focus on masculinity. How could the quiet, nerdy guy possibly be capable of such violence?

I don't know, man. Maybe we are all capable of violence. Maybe the prospect of being chopped up for embezzling could lead someone to fight for their literal life. Or, and I know this won't be popular with a certain crowd, maybe a nerdy guy pushing numbers around in spreadsheets could kick your ass.

I've almost written as many words about the story as comprise it, so I will cut it off here. I love a good pulpy crime story, and that's what I tried to deliver with "Rounding Error."

As always, thank you for trusting me with your time, and thank you for reading my words.