Gemotions

"Look, Daddy!" The exuberant cry of his sister's daughter, echoing through the overly-cheerful family home, grated on his ears. A crayon drawing was thrust in front of him. A figure with disproportionate features, a ridiculous hat, and an absurdly long nose was splayed across the page. “Mr. Snugglesnort,” she announced.

His fingers clenched, the paper crinkling slightly. He remembered Mr. Snugglesnort. *His* invention. The name still made him cringe. He’d carefully cultivated his adult life. He'd built a career, a reputation. Now, this… this triviality was being thrust back into his face.

He forced a smile, a grimace really. “Very… creative, darling.” He tried to keep his voice neutral, but it came out flat. He knew what he would do. He’d suggest that they take up a "more productive" activity, away from that drawing, away from those ghosts of the past. Perhaps some quiet time with his sister was in order.