“Thank you, Mr. Peck. How is the work going?”

“My work is going fine. Thanks. And yours?”

“Mine is going on well. Thank you.”

“What brings you?”

“I came to work with you today. At least for an hour. Will that be okay?”

“Wow! That would be fine.”

“It is all right. Can I clock in?”

Mr. Peck gave the clerk an instructive look, and she brought the clock-in book. She turned to the page for that day and kept it on the table.

“Thank you.”

Mr. Israel appreciated before he set out to fill the form. To his surprise, he was going to be number sixty-eight. He filled his...