Gemotions

The crunch of splintering wood jolted Mark awake. He blinked, disoriented, and then the scene slammed into him: the enormous pine, his neighbor's pride and joy, was now splayed across his own roof. He scrambled out of bed, his pajamas clinging to him. He peered through the window, feeling his face burn.

His insurance premiums were already astronomical, thanks to a leaky roof he had failed to fix. He envisioned the adjuster, the paperwork, the sheer expense. Now, he would be the subject of gossip. The whole neighborhood knew about his "roof problems." He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, the heat in his cheeks a palpable thing.