Read Chapter 14: — MAYA'S FIRST KNOCK

Maya's first truly difficult welfare visit was to a man named Peter Lang who refused to open the door.

Neighbours had not seen him in four days. His wife had died the previous year. His daughter lived in Canada.

"I'm fine," he shouted through the wood.

"Then tell me what you had for breakfast."

Silence.

"Mr Lang?"

"Tea."

"Tea is not breakfast."

"It is if you're British."

"Fair point. What did you have yesterday?"

Longer silence.

Maya sat on the landing, more than two metres from the door.

"I can leave food and go. You don't have to see me."

"I don't want charity."

"Neither do I. That's why I'm calling it groceries."

"I can't pay you."

"Then when this is over, buy somebody else a cup of tea."

The latch finally moved.

Peter was thinner than she expected.

He did not let her in. She did not try to enter.

She left soup, bread, milk and oranges on the floor between them.

"My husband says systems survive because boring people do boring things reliably," she said.

Peter looked at the bags.

"Your husband sounds unbearable."

"You have no idea."

He smiled.

It was enough.