I laid the blue ticket on the counter between us.

“I need a certified log entry for this ticket from November fourth,” I said.

He took his reading glasses out of his pocket, put them on, and studied the faded red print on the stub.

“November fourth was a Thursday,” he said.

“We keep those carbon daily sheets in the back file cabinet.”

“Can you check whether my license plate is on the sheet for two o’clock that afternoon?” I asked.

He set his cup down and walked into the small back room behind the booth.