Chapter Eleven
Hens and Things
Love Can Overcome Fear.
A few days later, George left the hospital. He arrived to find cars parked by caravans, machines whirling in the laundry block, and Helmut skidding down the steps of his caravan amidst a flutter of hens.
The hens had taken to parking themselves under his caravan away from the wind and rain.
Every time Helmut opened his door the hens appeared, clucking about his feet like there was something tasty beneath. He didn’t feed them, but everyone else did, and by his caravan. They all wanted the eggs but not the mess, the clucking, or the soggy ground. The caravan steps were covered in hen poop and the ground about the steps was as slippery as oil. Stepping out of his caravan required the balance of an ice skater and the observation of an
