“Are these the accounts that go to collections on Friday?” I asked.

“The county audit software closes the files at four on Friday,” Vance said, taking the sheet out of my hand.

“Once those account numbers go into the collection system, the district tacks a fifty-dollar administrative penalty onto every family.”

Principal Vance locked the plastic frame, leaving the pinned collection notice in view with its twenty-three family account numbers marked for collection agencies.

Before I could step out of the school’s front lobby, Irene had pulled her vinyl purse onto her lap.