He heard invectives never hurled. He railed against an enemy of his own making.

He felt an irrepressible urge to delineate his many accomplishments. Since the urge was irrepressible, he didn’t repress it. He told of his feats and victories and how amazing they must have sounded to anyone who could not read above a third-grade level.

He had no logic on which to rely for a win so he whined and demeaned and belittled and puffed himself up until he couldn’t even remember he was blowing his own house down.

He was asked a question. He was challenged. And he heard a vile, personal affront.

He fought the invisible battle and we all waited for his rage to subside as we went about the work of being successful.