“I have bought from you since 1989.”

“I know it.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“I can sell you two bags for cash.

Sixty-eight dollars.”

I took out my wallet and counted forty-one dollars onto the counter and put the rest back.

“Then I’ll see you Friday,” I said.

He nodded and didn’t say anything else, and I picked up the two sacks and walked them out through the front door, and the wind came across the lot hard enough to snap the canvas.

I carried both sacks out to the pickup with the cold cutting at my neck.