make confronting them with his newness any easier . Their father ’ s passing had devastated the family emotionally and financially . Now the triumvirate of Greg , Margaret and their infirm mother were squashed into a cramped apartment in a brutalist tower block . Without Greg , who knew how much further they could fall .
“ Greg ?” her voice was slightly plaintive . “ Are you alright ?”
He cleared his throat in an attempt to dislodge a blockage . When he finally responded , his voice had a discernible buzz to it like someone using an electrolarynx .
“ Yeah , I think I ’ m actually going to work from home today . I ’ m feeling a little peaky .”
When she responded , there was a begrudging acceptance in her voice that was belied by the sound of her feet reluctantly retreating from his door . It mattered very little how much she trusted him now . He couldn ’ t let anyone see him . While they might not know , they would certainly suspect , and it would only place his family in danger . Turn him in or be accused of aiding and abetting . Poor Walter had hidden his change longer than most , but that was the result of mere fortune . Most people ’ s change manifested itself in far more conspicuous places than Walter ’ s . Greg would frequently return to their final morning together in the office : he was slumped over his desk , head in hands , sweating profusely from the effort of carrying his newfound bulk . No . Better for Greg to delay things for a few days until he could come up with a plan to