and i knew he shoveled my snow , i knew this because i asked colt if he 'd done it and he 'd said no and i 'd asked jeremy if he 'd done it and he 'd said no and since my other close neighbors were either too old ( myrtle , the widow who lived across from joe and pearl , the spinster who lived across from me ) or bitches ( tina , who lived next to me on the other side ) , it had to be joe .