Gemotions

The children had been so excited about the summer, about playing catch in the yard. Their joy felt like a betrayal now, a cruel joke. That wretched Mr. Henderson’s fence was going to ruin everything.

He remembered the arguments, the veiled insults, the way Mr. Henderson always looked down his nose at him. He’d try to act all polite, but the venom was always there, simmering beneath the surface.

He watched the fence posts being hammered into the ground, the sun beating down on his back. A lump formed in his throat. His kids didn’t understand, they were happy.

He turned away from the window, and went to make dinner. He did so with excessive energy.