The money settled weeks ago.”

I folded the page in half and put it in my purse.

That folded sheet felt heavy hanging from my shoulder.

I went back out to the car and sat behind the wheel.

I watched a city bus roll past the bank, splashing brown water across the sidewalk.

Four thousand dollars set aside for medical emergencies had vanished.

When I got home at four, I put water on to boil.

I made a cup of chamomile tea and toasted a plain bagel, setting them both on a little wooden tray.