looked like he was trying to balance a chip on his shoulder 

                                                                You got people here? 

he lied  said he did but he was convincing 

                                            because truthtelling was paramount he imaginedcobbled his people back East to be somewhere in the widedispersed hamlet  practised   his utterance was believable

the guy who asked said he was a local

he knew from the three weeks he was there that being unattached could threaten his welfare hed lived in other small communities  they favoured their own wouldnt know it as a form of nepotism because they didnt know the word he dumbed down his vocabulary even as his mind screamed otherwise  for his agility tact it gave him a headachewouldnt talk to him  made him sleep on the couch

nevertheless he prevailedhe fit in 

                                   be damned if hed let themas he was outnumbered  overrun him  procure liberate disperse whawas his 

Yah  I got people but you woudnt know them

What’s their name?

You woudnt know them becausesorry to say likely they woudnt know you 

                                                                                  they were one on one 

he woudnt square off with him unless he had others at his back

   he was confident

confidence isnt a ploy  got it or ya don  

demoralised the chip fell

I have somewhere to be in tenDISMISSED 

                                                You have a fine day 

he grumbled something

   chip may have fallen in his mouth

1212,  Monday, 13  2. 23

1630,  Sunday,  26  3. 23

Talking Heads  Once in a Lifetime  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR0jgT9UX0Q