Carl Vance came out of his little back office, tapping his plastic clipboard against his right leg in a steady rhythm.

“I need Saturday off, Carl,” I said, keeping my voice down so the man buying tobacco wouldn’t hear.

Carl stopped his clipboard in mid-tap and squinted at the weekly schedule pinned next to the cigarette rack.

“The district man is coming down from Houston Saturday for the quarterly audit, Doll.”

“I’ve got to make a drive up to Tyler,” I said.

“If you miss Saturday, corporate takes away your attendance bonus,” Carl said.