Breakdown by Katherine Amt Hanna

them. It’s odd, really. It would have been safer for them to stay, I’m sure.”
    “Likely they went looking for family,” Chris said.
    “Yes, I suppose. Michael’s never been back, to stay. He’s visited, but never for long. We’re his second family. He leaned on Dad a lot, back then. It was another blow to him when Dad died.”
    “He puts on quite an act, doesn’t he?” Chris asked, wondering if he did it with them.
    She nodded. “Yes, he does. Did you know it was an act, in Portsmouth?”
    “I didn’t really think about it.”
    She was looking at him, and he braced himself.
    “You don’t let yourself get close to anyone, do you?”
    He inhaled. “Not anymore. It’s safer.”
    She didn’t reply, and he exhaled in relief.
    They turned left at the crossroads where the lorry had dropped him, cutting through an abandoned petrol station. The village began in earnest soon after, with a row of stone houses on each side of the street. Not too far along were another crossroads and the square. Chris saw the pub, post office, grocer, and butcher, with a few empty shops among them. Some houses were well kept, some obviously abandoned. Two old men sat on benches near a dry fountain. They watched Pauline and Chris, but Pauline turned into the door of the post office before they were close enough to have to greet the men.
    Three young women were already in the place and turned expectantly as Chris and Pauline entered. They smiled brightly.
    “Hey, Pauline,” one of them said. “Is this your hired help?”
    Pauline made an exasperated noise. “I told you I’d be bringing him to register. And I asked you to stay out of it.”
    The women ignored her.
    “I’m Diana,” said the one who’d already spoken. “This is Claire, and Janice.”
    Diana had loose blond hair that bounced on her shoulders. She wore a tight blue jumper with a low neckline. Claire kept her dark hair shorter. Her figure was less curvy, more muscular, but Chris thought her face prettier than Diana’s. Janice had tied up her brown hair with a ribbon and had selected an impractical pink blouse and skirt set for her trip to the post office. She’d left one button too many undone, showing modest cleavage.
    “Nice to meet you.” Chris tried to be polite without being friendly. Their attitudes bordered on desperate as they tried to outsmile each other.
    “And you’re Chris, right?” Diana said, licking her lips and tossing her hair a bit. She moved to stand in front of Claire, who slid her eyes briefly at her rival and sidestepped to remain in full view.
    “I told you his name earlier,” Pauline said. “Clear off, ladies. He has to register.”
    “Just trying to be friendly to the new man in town,” Claire said. She directed another smile at Chris. “We’ll get a chance to talk at the pub sometime, right?”
    “Ah, perhaps,” Chris said, edging away from them toward the counter.
    “Clear off ,” Pauline said again.
    Chris wondered if she would have to shoo them like chickens or ducks.
    “Bye, Chris,” they all said in various singsong tones, and exited as a group, fluttering fingers at him.
    Pauline screwed up her face. “Sorry.”
    “Huh,” Chris said, and Pauline grinned.
    A deep voice spoke up from behind the counter. “You’re the most exciting thing to happen around here in years.” The man sat at a desk behind the counter. He pushed himself out of his chair with a wry look. He appeared older than George, weatherworn, but not as old as Grace.
    “Hello, Mr. Percy,” Pauline said. “This is Chris Price, our boarder.”
    “Friend of Michael Cooper’s, I hear,” Mr. Percy said. He pulled out a drawer and rummaged.
    “Um, yes.”
    Mr. Percy grunted. Chris raised his eyebrows at Pauline. She smiled back and rocked on her feet.
    “Visit or relocating?”
    “Extended visit,” Chris replied, stepping up to the counter.
    “Don’t have a form for that. Fortnight visit or relocating, take your pick. If you want coupons,