Madison, WI—Present Day
The front door of the Saint Vincent de Paul thrift shop opens with a chime, and I look up from the clothing rack I’m organizing and into the angelic face of Katie Jones. Katie had started here a few weeks ago as a way to bolster her college application with volunteer hours, and she was still learning the ropes. I, on the other hand, had been volunteering here long enough that everybody comes to me when they want to know where something is.
“Hi Katie,” I say. “I thought you’d be in school today.”
“It’s teacher in-service day Missus Johnson. No school, so I came here instead.”
I know I’m old enough to be Katie’s mother, but it still wounds me just a bit to be called Mrs. Johnson. “Please Katie, call me Amanda.”
“Sure thing,” she says. “So, what needs doing today?
