Gemotions

The late afternoon sun was doing its level best to bake the back of Clara's neck as she wrestled with the stubborn hose. "Just... give... a little... more!" she muttered under her breath, yanking on the nozzle. Then, the cheerful voice, "Hello there! Beautiful day, isn't it?" Clara jumped, the hose slipping from her grasp and spraying a cold jet of water directly at her own face. She swiped at her eyes, glaring at Mrs. Gable, standing there with a beaming smile and a basket overflowing with gardening gloves.

"Lovely, just lovely," Clara managed to choke out, the water making her clothes cling to her. Mrs. Gable launched into her request, a whole song and dance about needing more space for her prize-winning zucchini. Clara felt a familiar knot tighten in her stomach.

Her yard was *hers*. She’d spent weeks nurturing the perfect lawn, the pristine green a source of quiet satisfaction. The thought of someone else messing with her meticulously crafted space sent a twitch down her left eye. She forced a smile, the muscles in her face aching with the effort. "Well, I'll need to think about it," she said, hoping the words sounded vaguely polite.