Gemotions

He saw the stakes first, the little flags flapping in the breeze. Then, the survey crew, trudging across the shared property line. The plans were clear: a six-foot-tall monstrosity was going up, blocking his view of the sunset.

"Morning, Bob!" His neighbor, Frank, called out, all sunshine and smiles. Bob grunted in response. The pleasantness of Frank's greeting only seemed to intensify the feeling in Bob's gut, a tight, clenched knot.

He pictured Frank, probably smug about getting the jump on him. Frank, who always seemed to win. Frank, with his perfectly manicured lawn and his stupidly happy family. He took a long drag of his cigarette, and the smoke felt acrid in his lungs.