Gemotions

He paced his living room, the rhythmic thump of his foot a counterpoint to the insistent barking outside. "This is it," he thought. "This is the final straw." He could feel the pulse hammering in his temples, a relentless drumbeat of resentment.

The whole thing was ludicrous. The dog’s owners were constantly flustered and apologetic, but the dog kept getting through. He snatched up his phone and punched in the neighbor's number, his thumb slamming the 'call' button with undue force.

The phone rang, and rang, and rang. Each ring was a tiny shard of aggravation, embedding itself deeper into his mood. He hung up, defeated, and went to get his shovel.