Cashing in all my cans and bottles brought me a fine and well earned bounty of $12.45 split into one ten, two ones, one quarter and two dimes.
I gushed with an inward smile looking down at the currency in my hands sticky from stale lagers, ales, and ports.
My eyes traveled to my belt then my trousers then my shoes. For the first time in as far back as I can recall I was embarrassed with myself. My clothes smelled rotten and shined with dirt and oil.
The warmth provided by the new ten dollar bill hastily swapped places with apprehension and I became glum and self-conscience in the midst of the cashier and the folks in line behind me.
I stepped backwards to the side of the line disallowing the patrons to see my back. I viewed them all in the eyes and they me.
The ten dollar bill looked like a deity in the rough laying in my palm. I crushed it slowly.
I backed away further from the line of onlookers as my throat clinched tightly and my eyes pulsed and swelled warm with moist emotion.
Today I have $12.45
tomorrow I have clothes, shiny with dirt and oil.
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