He Will Learn the Hard Way

Flavian phoned from Haiti to say that he had been kidnapped by some sort of rebel gang, and had I $2000 available towards his ransom? I said no, I didn't have $2000. I could tell he was bluffing, the coward. Plus, I could see him huddled outside my house, yakking into his enormous cellphone. He thought he could get a reaction out of me. "Nice try," I said, "You must be freezing without a coat. Hold on, I'll let you inside." Then I put down the phone, turned out the lights, and went to bed. That'll teach him to "get a reaction" out of me.