Gemotions

He gripped the phone, the cheap plastic digging into his palm. “A bearded dragon?” he barked into the receiver, his voice sharp enough to cut glass. He could practically feel his blood pressure rising. He felt the familiar tingle that always accompanied his fury. He took a short breath.

The silence on the other end only fueled the mounting frustration. This felt like a personal affront. He, who was meticulous, who kept their place neat, would now be forced to coexist with a lizard? He could feel a vein throbbing in his forehead. “I’m not discussing this further,” he finally said, his voice clipped and cold. He hung up.