SANTA ROSA, CA—Noting the 51-year-old’s increasingly flushed complexion, wide and intense eyes, and slow, heavy breathing during an argument Friday morning, local siblings Jeff and Katie Russell told reporters that their father, Dave Russell, is far scarier when he tries to control his temper. “There’ve been plenty of times when he totally loses it and ends up slamming his fists on the table or yelling right at us, but somehow this is way worse,” Jeff Russell, 16, said after witnessing his father develop a bulging vein on the side of his neck while straining to lower the volume of his voice and contort his face into an expression of composure, a display his sister agreed was far more frightening than seeing him shout numerous profanities. “You think he’s finally going to snap, but instead he just keeps building up anger until there are a few beads of sweat on his forehead. Honestly, it would be a huge relief for everyone if he just let it out and threw something at the wall.” At press time, the elder Russell had said through gritted teeth that he needed a moment to gather his thoughts and calmly stepped out of the room, leaving everyone at the breakfast table in complete terror.

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