Gemotions

The relentless drilling was driving Sarah to distraction, though not in the way one might expect. She paced her living room, a thin smile plastered on her face. The neighbors, the Millers, were installing a home theater. A *home theater*.

Her own television, already perfectly functional, suddenly felt obsolete. She envisioned the future dinner parties, the hushed conversations about the quality of her audio-visual experience. She imagined the smug superiority of the Millers.

A clammy sweat broke out on her forehead. The sound of the drill was almost hypnotic, a rhythmic pulse driving her to a decision. She called the bank, her voice surprisingly steady, to inquire about a loan.