Gemotions

The sight of his neighbor, Mr. Jones, at the door was enough to make Kevin’s stomach churn. He’d been trying to relax, watching television, but now he felt his chest constrict. He took a deep breath before opening the door.

"Kevin, good day! Your yard is a real beauty! I was hoping…" He paused, grinning. "To plant a small herb garden. Just a small area, near the fence. You wouldn't mind, would you?" He felt a sudden wave of heat, and his hands clenched at his sides.

Kevin stared at his perfectly trimmed lawn. The thought of someone else introducing something foreign... disturbing. "Well," he said, the word coming out as a strained whisper, "I'm not certain. I will… I have to think."

He watched Mr. Jones walk away, and then he closed the door, suddenly feeling the need to lock it and bar it. He went back to the television, but the words and images swirled uselessly in his head.