Taking the subway and arriving at Jack's QuickStop convenience store by almost 4:30 PM, Lenny quickly changed into his work uniform—the red-sleeveless jacket—and rushed to the main store area, arriving at the counter from the door that led to the back.
Seeing Lenny arrive, Mr. Singh, the chubby tan-skinned manager with a deep Indian accent, glanced at him and shook his head in disappointment.
"You're late again," Mr. Singh said, his eyes trained on Lenny, who wasn't wearing a black face mask anymore.
Lenny let out a long sigh. "I know, sir. I'm very sorry. I… I ran into a health emergency."
Unusually, Mr. Singh just turned his head away and sighed too. He didn't yell at Lenny this time.
He just deliberated for a few seconds before he finally spoke: "I'm… selling the store. You have to start looking for another job."
