"People walking past (all with "the same boiled look on their faces") refuse to make eye contact. "I'd never felt the force of such frank contempt—and all because I was sitting on a fire hydrant."
How does he know this isn't just how Newyorkers look all the time? We're talking about Manhattan here!
How does he know this isn't just how Newyorkers look all the time? We're talking about Manhattan here!