When he entered the dining room he kept his head low.
Although he couldn't see the reaction - staring at his shoes as he shuffled up to the serving hatch - he could feel the change in atmosphere. The volume of chatter quietened slightly as he moved through the room and then exploded again. He heard some giggles as he passed the table that Mavis usually sat on.
Since the incident he had lost all credibility. He knew it as well as they did. If he could he would leave his place. But he couldn't afford to move.
Not again.
He reached the counter and looked up into the smiling face of Betty, one of the staff members who had been on duty that day. He scanned her features for signs of mockery, but, if anything, her face was full of pity. That was worse, of course.
He could take the laughter. He couldn't stand the pity.
"What would you like love," Betty asked, her voice quiet.
...
