Dear Abby,
An unfortunate incident occurred yesterday, and I'd like your advice on how to proceed.
My neighbor George (we share a duplex) asked to borrow the car so he could drive blindfolded to the 7-Eleven and buy a smoke alarm, because he was worried that our duplex might catch fire. My wife, who is very shrill and swears a lot, told me I shouldn't do it because George would just get into a terrible accident and might kill somebody, and anyway they don't sell smoke alarms at the 7-Eleven.
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However, my brother Del warned me that if I didn't let George have the car he would accuse me of wanting our duplex to burn down, and my friend Brodie, whose opinion I value immensely, told me that the threat of fire was very real, and that there might be smoke alarms at the 7-Eleven and that George should be allowed to go, just in case. I finally gave in and let George borrow the car.
George put on his blindfold, peeled out of the driveway, and smashed into another car, killing the driver and two passengers. My wife thinks that we should call the police and have George arrested, but Del insists that if I did that I'd only look petty and vindictive, and Brodie keeps telling me what a great guy George is.
Meanwhile, George says the accident is all my fault because my wife was so negative and defeatist, and if she hadn't spoken up George would have made it down to the 7-Eleven and got the smoke alarm without any trouble, and that it proves that I want our duplex to burn down.
Abby, I'm starting to think that I made a mistake by letting George have the car. What should I do?
Signed,
Unhappy Neighbor