Gemotions

"Excuse me," Mark began, his voice tight. He stood at the used bookstore's counter, the offending tome clutched in his hand. A letter, folded and creased, had emerged from the pages of a well-loved cookbook. He'd been looking forward to trying some of the recipes. Now? The thought filled him with a bitter taste.

He could feel a tremor in his hand. The note, a hastily written grocery list, was an insult. A blatant disregard for the value of the book. His cheeks burned.

The cashier, a teenager with multiple piercings, simply shrugged. "Happens all the time, man." Mark's temper flared. "Happens all the time? This isn't just *any* book! This is a classic!" He took a deep breath, trying to regain control.