Gemotions

The sleek lines of the yacht, docked just a few houses down the street, mocked him. He couldn’t bring himself to look at it for very long. It felt like a personal insult. A hot flash ran through him.

He knew from the newspaper clippings that Mr. Abernathy, his neighbor, had bought the vessel. He'd never exchanged a word with Abernathy. The man remained an elusive figure, the source of so much unspoken discontent.

His own boat, a small dinghy he’d inherited from his father, felt insignificant and pathetic. He could not bring himself to look at it. He felt ashamed.