Gemotions

David slumped in the chair, staring at the parent-teacher conference schedule. *Mrs. Olsen, Fourth Grade.* A chill ran down his spine. Mrs. Olsen. The teacher who had humiliated him in front of the class. The memories, so clear, were stinging.

He spent the weekend meticulously organizing his son, Noah’s, room. He made sure everything was labeled. He wanted everything to be perfect. He couldn’t stand the thought of Noah having a messy room. He had lived in a messy room.

He found himself constantly pushing Noah to excel. He signed him up for every extracurricular activity imaginable. He started talking about the future with Noah, asking him what he wanted to be. He began speaking in a hushed tone, as if he were afraid of interrupting.

He remembered how he had been a lazy student. How he had never been ambitious. He was haunted by it. He did not want Noah to have any of his mistakes. He feared Noah would become like him.