Gemotions

John sat at the kitchen table, the class schedule in front of him. His eyes narrowed as he traced the name on the line beside his son's name – Mr. Bradley. His own high school history teacher. A man who'd made him feel small and stupid. The man’s condescending tone and the countless hours spent trying to understand the subject still haunted him.

He slammed his fist on the table, startling his wife. "This is unbelievable!" he exclaimed. His face was flushed, his body rigid. He felt a surge of anger, a resurgence of the old feelings of inadequacy.

He glanced at his son, Michael, who was happily engrossed in a video game. John knew he needed to keep his emotions in check, not to let his own past experiences taint his son’s. But the thought of Michael under Mr. Bradley’s tutelage filled him with a potent mixture of anger and dread.