“OK. Only it’s just that you don’t seem that excited about it.”

But no one else arrived, so the sheriff removed the chair propping the door open, letting it swing shut, and nodded for them to make a start. Peter sat back in his chair, taking a bite of the donut. The pink fondant was so sweet, he thought his lips would peel back off his face.

Teddy leaned in. “Do you think that girl would like me?”

“What girl?”

“That girl with the ginger freckles like the stars coming down from heaven.”

“What, like, like you, like you?”

“Yeah?”

“Oh,” said Peter tucking the donut underneath his chair. “I don’t know.”

“You seem surprised.”

“No, it’s just that—”

“It’s just that what? You think because I like to wear fun shirts that I’m just here to be your comedy sidekick or something?”

Peter stared at Teddy’s short-sleeved shirt with the ice-skating reindeers on it. “No. No, it’s not that.”

“Or maybe you thought I fancied you.”

Peter choked on a bit of donut.

“Because,” said Teddy, “ew!”

“OK. You don’t have to—”

“I mean – just ew!”

A woman with grey hair and a kind face stepped into the circle with a clipboard pressed to her breast and Peter leaned in.

“Teddy. What are credit ratings?”

“They assess how likely you are to pay back your debt.”

“Oh. OK.” Then, “Why would anyone have any debt?”

“Because of the loans they’re going to give everyone to get started again.”

“But what if you can’t pay them back?”

Teddy nudged him in the side and offered him some of his donut. “Don’t be silly.”

“And why have some people got envelopes?”

“Because they haven’t been able to make their rent. They’ve been given notice already so I guess they’ll definitely need a loan.”

Peter looked across the way at the old man in the Stetson. His hands were trembling fiercely now. The envelope was crunched up inside his fist.

“But I haven’t paid our rent yet either,” said Peter. “Why don’t we have one of those?”

“Because my dad’s covered it for you. You know, so you and Cooper don’t have to worry.”

Peter looked across the hall towards the sheriff. But he was already looking his way. He wiped beer foam from his moustache and, with a wink, raised a tin cup towards him like he was toasting his thanks for taking Teddy in as a friend. Or thanking him for something.

“But that’s too much,” said Peter.

“Ssh,” said Teddy.

“But—”

“Forget about it.”

“And what about everybody else?”

Teddy licked his fingers.

“What about everybody else, Teddy?”