Irked

Tom was irked by what Mary said.

Tom was irked.

I was irked.

What Mary said irked Tom.

He was irked.

Honestly, the arrogance with which he answered really irked me.

Don and I discussed religion on many occasions. We both generally agreed that neither of us really liked what we called "shrink-wrapped" religions. Those religions were packaged deals created by other humans. Those religions came right "off the shelf" in the Religion Store. We both thought that religion should be a very dynamic and individualistic pursuit. Hong Kong-born Don had some past ephemeral experience with a Christian sect, probably Fundamentalist, which irked him. He knew that I was exploring Buddhism, but he found it too difficult to gulp down when I tried to explain it to him. I showed him to my temple where my fellow meditators sat on a hardwood floor and meditated in the dark spacious hall with only candlelight. He was a bit scared. At the restaurant, he wanted me to explain the different branches or types of Christianity. And so I did. But Don still preferred, I thought, Star Trekky freedom over religion.

Pressured to deliver his film on time and within budget, Asher finally refused to give in to another of Cummings' demands. The irked actor stormed off the set. Bill shot around him for the rest of the day but then had to approach his unhappy star.