There was nothing but quiet. After the busy bustle of a city, something he’d become used to, the constant background hum of many people each going about their business in close proximity to each other, the quietness of the village seemed odd, verging on the sinister. After a while, he noticed that his gaze was constantly on the move, looking for action, movement, distraction. In the city he had to be constantly aware of those around him, where they were going, what they were doing.
Here, there was nothing. The street was almost deserted. It was so quiet here that there was a cat sitting in a patch of sun in the middle of the main road, washing its tail and keeping an eye on a pair of birds in a nearby garden. Further down the street, there was what looked like a middle-aged woman wandering around in her front garden, doing something to her plants. Beyond that, there was no movement at all, at least until he was a few yards away from the village shop.
A man he had never seen before came out of the shop, smiled, tucking a newspaper under his arm, and said ‘Morning!’
‘Er…. Morning,’ John replied, attempting to smile back.
‘Lovely day?’
‘Er… yes… yes, it is.’ John was uncertain, wondering if this was going to turn into a conversation but the other man just nodded, as if satisfied, and walked on.
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