Gemotions

The vibrations rattled through the floorboards. "More cement, please!" The yelling from the construction crew next door grated on him. It was a new deck, a bigger deck, a deck with an outdoor kitchen, that Mr. Peterson was building. He’d barely said hello to Richard, before he started.

He found himself meticulously polishing his already spotless car, each stroke a deliberate act of defiance. He took his time, feeling the familiar weight of the chamois cloth. The house felt too small, his life, too quiet. He knew he’d been wanting to replace his old car, but this project of Mr. Peterson’s would be the tipping point. He would go all out and show his neighbor what he was capable of.