up 15 minutes early every day and worked harder than anyone else, sweeping floors, organizing stock, hauling boxes.
Customers liked him. My employees respected him. He was polite and decent.
Weeks turned into months, and not once did he give me a reason to doubt him.
Eventually, we started talking more. Barry told me about growing up with a mother who worked two jobs. His father had disappeared when he was three years old.
Barry proved himself quickly.
One evening, I invited him to dinner.
Karen wasn’t thrilled about it, but she kept quiet.
Barry showed up with a pie. He sat at the table politely and thanked Karen for the meal three separate times.
Over the next few months, he came over more often, sometimes even for the weekend.
I realized something one night while we were watching a baseball game in the living room.
I enjoyed having him
