No Deal

Early the next morning, Eulalia boarded the bus to the county town. Upon arriving, she took a taxi to the largest shopping mall in the area. This was her first visit to a mall since she had arrived in town, and she concealed the excitement trembling in her heart.

Eulalia surveyed her surroundings while memorizing the route, searching for a jewelry store. After asking around, she finally found a shop where she could pawn jewelry. She glanced at the décor and then her eyes settled on the jewelry displayed behind the glass—too ordinary. She was unsure how to price them.

It was only when a sales clerk saw her wandering around that he approached her and asked, “What kind of jewelry are you looking to pick out, miss?”

Eulalia responded directly, “Is your boss here?”

The clerk’s smile faltered slightly, subtly masking his concern—perhaps fearing she was there to return an item or cause trouble.

“Our boss isn’t here, but the manager is.”

“Could you please call the manager over? Thank you.”

Th