Anthem

"Mr. Ishi?"
"Yes."
"This the Jap that lives above me?"
"This uh Mr. Ishi."
"Well this uh Mr. Donnelly from downstairs. Turn off the damn racket you got up there!"
"No racket?"
"No racket? I can hear it through the ---- phone!"
"No racket! Anthem!"
"And the ceiling! I can hear it through the ceiling tiles! Damn Jap!"
Mr. Ishi hung up.
Mr. Donnelly looked up at his ceiling and heard the muffled din of horned instruments wailing. He got up from his chair and went to the hutch. There was a mirror hanging above it and Donnelly looked at himself for several seconds before opening the hutch drawer. He fished for his pistol and one bullet. The music seeped through the crown molding and dripped down the wall in angry black ink. He loaded the pistol and put it in the pocket of his robe.

Mr. Donnelly walked to the front door and reached out to unlock the latch. The door bell rang. He swung the door open with one hand in his robe pocket, grasping the pistol.

Mr. Ishi stood elegantly and fiercely in the entry way with a great sword in both hands, the handle held at his eye level. He was wearing a Snoopy shirt with the Japanese flag draped over his shoulders. In one motion he brought the samurai sword down on Mr. Donnelly's arm.

Mr. Ishi's door was open upstairs and the United States national anthem roared from his television.