“Would you buy the papers from me if I can’t sell them?” Mary asked.

“I’m not sure that would be right. What do you think?”

“I know, it’s not right. I gotta sell these papers!” She seemed to beg. “Prove to Mr. McCracken, and you, and my mother I can do it.”

“And, who’s the most important one to prove it to, Mary?”

A pause lengthened into uncomfortable silence.

“Who else is there?” demanded Mary, verging on hostility.

“Isn’t the most important person the person who has to sell the papers and keep her job?”

“Oh. I see.” She became agreeable. “I have to prove to myself, right?”

“OK. And, if you just figure out how to sell 15, maybe you can do the same thing every day.”

“Yeah, I never knew what I did before that I was selling the papers. You think it’s how I look?”