The McClane Curse might encompass Christmas, Labor Day, and the 4th of July, but John assured Matt that he had nothing to worry about at the parade on Read Across America Day. That was, of course, before the giant Tribute to Lord of the Rings float exploded, sending bookmark-shaped projectiles and not a few elves and dwarves catapulting into the crowd of book-loving onlookers.

Matt hates holidays.