The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

herself: ‘This isn’t normal.’
    Andy looked as though he was inclined to agree.
    â€˜I’ve heard Sara’s short of money,’ May said.
    â€˜Short of money?’ Gertrude asked. ‘Interesting.’
    They were back at Grace’s, where both of them had sat through the entire lunch rush with a small cup of coffee in front of them. It was an art they had long since perfected. Gertrude’s trick was to let the coffee go so cold that she wasn’t tempted to take a sip too soon. May’s was to look especially friendly and grandmotherly and rely on the free refills.
    â€˜Dear me,’ said May. It was a clichéd thing for an elderly woman to say, and it earned her a sharp look from Gertrude.
    â€˜I’m saying nothing,’ said Gertrude. ‘Anyone can have problems with dough from time to time.’
    At that very moment, Grace left the counter and leaned out of the doorway. ‘Sara!’ she shouted. ‘Are you hungry? Can I treat you to lunch?’
    Both Gertrude and May craned round, squinting towards the window. They looked as though they hoped Sara would jump at the offer so they could study her in peace and quiet and close up. So far, neither of them had managed that. If their luck didn’t change they would be forced to do something drastic, like cornering her on the street and actually talking to her. But Sara simply looked guilty, mumbled a ‘no, thanks’ and moved swiftly on.
    Gertrude shook her head. ‘Says no to a free meal? I never heard of such a thing.’
    Tom hadn’t seen Sara since the evening he’d stopped by. When he caught sight of her in town, he parked his car and clambered out.
    He didn’t even know what he thought of her and her constant reading. There was something almost insulting about a woman who so clearly preferred books to people. There was also something he needed to ask her.
    At that moment, she wasn’t reading. She was leaning forward strangely in front of Amy’s old shop, her face pressed against the dirty windowpane.
    â€˜Is it true you’re short of money?’ he asked.
    â€˜Short of money? I mean … of course I’m not. I just got here.’
    â€˜It did seem idiotic that you’d have come here if you couldn’t afford it.’
    â€˜Of course I can afford it. But no one will let me pay for a single thing.’
    She straightened up and turned towards him.
    â€˜My God,’ she said, ‘is that why no one will let me pay for anything? For the food from John’s or the coffee from Grace’s, or the beers at Andy’s? Why do they think I don’t have any money?’
    There was something charming in the way she opened her grey eyes wide, like she thought he somehow knew all the answers.
    â€˜I’d guess they’re not letting you pay because they see you as Amy’s guest. Or our shared guest now.’
    â€˜But that’s ridiculous. I’ve got money. How are they ever meant to survive when they go around treating everyone to everything?’
    â€˜Good question. But I’d hardly call that ridiculous. It’s friendly.’
    A furrow appeared between her eyes. ‘So when I asked if I could help out, they thought … Then why would they offer things but not let me help out in return?’
    â€˜Help out?’
    â€˜Yeah, I could help John put things out on the shelves or behind the till or help Andy with the dishes –’
    â€˜You offered to do the dishes?’ he asked, just to be sure he had understood her. My God, he thought, he would have liked to have seen Andy’s face when she’d asked that.
    But Sara answered as though it was the most natural thing in the world. ‘Yes, I’m good at it. Not just the dishes, I mean,’ she added, ‘but working the till or putting things out on shelves. I’ve definitely done enough of it before. Strictly speaking, I’ve never worked in a bar,