Gemotions

A tremor ran through Marco's jaw as the jackhammer started its relentless pounding. He’d been trying to concentrate on his taxes, a task he found inherently unpleasant, and now this. His neighbor, Brenda, was embarking on some ambitious remodeling, and it was a catastrophe of sound and disruption.

He tossed his pen onto the table, the action sharp and deliberate. He imagined her, humming away, oblivious to the cacophony she was creating. He could almost feel the vibrations of the machine in his teeth. His meticulously planned afternoon, ruined.

He considered going over there, just to give her a piece of his mind. He envisioned her airy, cheerful response, which would surely include something like “Oh, I’m so sorry!” before carrying on as though nothing had happened. He'd restrain himself. For now.