Gemotions

The first nail gun burst echoed through Eleanor's otherwise perfectly silent morning. She sipped her Earl Grey, the delicate china a stark contrast to the cacophony erupting next door. Eleanor had always taken pride in her home, the immaculate lawn, the freshly painted trim. Mrs. Gable's house, on the other hand… well, it was a project. *Now,* she thought, surveying the chaos from her sunroom, *she's finally getting around to it.* A slow, satisfied smile played on her lips.

A bead of sweat trickled down her temple, but she didn’t wipe it away. The sun was perfectly positioned to highlight the dust clouds billowing from the Gables' roof. She’d told Arthur they'd need to replace that roof years ago. He'd just scoffed, but now, it seemed, the reality of the situation was starting to dawn.

The hammering intensified. Eleanor reached for her crossword, the pencil tapping a deliberate rhythm against the paper as she effortlessly filled in the first few clues. The sounds next door, she realized with a tiny inward chuckle, would make a fine background track to her achievements.