When the author says (through Charlie), "A little power failure and right away we all get flustered and everything," what does the word flustered mean? How does this tie into the character's reactions? The monsters are due on maple street
The word "flustered" means feeling confused, agitated, or disconcerted. In this context, the author is highlighting how quickly people can become agitated and lose their composure when faced with a minor inconvenience like a power failure.
This ties into the character's reactions because it shows how easily fear and paranoia can take hold of people when they are faced with the unknown or something out of the ordinary. Their reactions are exaggerated and irrational, leading to suspicions and accusations against each other. The characters quickly turn on each other, demonstrating how fragile societal order can be in the face of fear and uncertainty.