“Oh, that’s strange,” she murmured. “Can I try one more time?”
“Of course,” I replied.
She tapped the card again, but her fingers were trembling so badly that she nearly missed the reader.
Another beep.
DECLINED.
By then, the checkout line had grown considerably.
Someone behind her sighed loudly.
Another customer complained about how long everything was taking.
The woman’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
She lowered her eyes and opened her wallet, searching for whatever money she might have left.
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