“I still need someone who knows how to order heavy truck filters on the old software,” Dale said.

“You’ll teach her,” I said quietly.

“It only takes three afternoons to learn.”

Dale held the card out to my window, pinched between his thick, callused fingers.

“I could put you on the payroll as a consultant, ten hours a week,” he said.

“No, Dale,” I said.

“I start my new job in the elementary school cafeteria Monday morning.”

Dale drew his hand back, looked down at the card, and tucked it into his breast pocket.