The last customer put three coins on the counter, then counted them again.
“Still three,” said the cashier.
The customer nodded, embarrassed. She had the exact fare for the bus, if she did not buy milk.
The cashier slid a carton across the counter and covered it with his hand. “This one expires tonight. I can't sell it tomorrow.”
She looked at the date. It had a week left.
“Then I'll take it.”
The till drawer closed. Outside, the bus pulled away while they were still looking at the date.
He put the carton in a paper bag and handed it to her. “The next one comes in an hour,” she said.
“I know,” he said, locking the shop. He walked with her to the stop and waited until the next bus's headlights appeared.
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