Gemotions

He heard the gravel crunch, a sound that always set his teeth on edge. The screen door creaked, announcing Mr. Henderson. A wave of ice coursed through David. He instinctively stepped back, hidden behind the gauzy curtain.

He could practically feel his heart in his throat. Mr. Henderson, with his wide, unsettling smile and the way he always seemed to be *looking*, had already made him nervous. He hated that feeling.

"David, is that you?" Mr. Henderson called out, his voice smooth and too friendly. David stayed silent, his hand instinctively clenching into a fist.

A shadow fell across the living room as Mr. Henderson peered through the window. Then he turned toward the yard. “Just a quick thing. Thinking about a garden. A small spot in your yard. I could really use the sunshine." David imagined a sprawling vegetable garden taking root in his space, and his gut twisted.