Gemotions

The clipboard practically vibrated in Arthur's hands. Mrs. Gable, perched on her perfectly manicured lawn, beamed. "Just a simple picket fence," she'd said, "To keep the dog in, you know?" Arthur nodded slowly, his eyes darting between the glossy brochure and the serene expanse of shared grass. He tried to speak, to form a polite objection, but the words seemed to have deserted him. His mouth opened and closed like a startled fish. He felt the blood drain from his face, leaving him feeling curiously lightheaded.