“Well, here’s the whole story. Yeah, from time to time, stuff would come up missing, or we’d be a few dollars short once in awhile. But I 昀椀gured it was a whole lot more painful to assume people were stealing than to just trust them. In the end, I 昀椀gure I had less stomach acid, I was a better husband to my wife and I worked a lot less hours. Did someone at some point steal something from me? Yeah, I’m sure. But I wasn’t going to let that spoil everything.” “What are you going to do next?” “I’m thinking of starting up another store south of here. It could be fun.” “Would you hire the same type of people?” “If they’d have me,” Buck said with his trademark laugh. Bill said goodbye to Buck, probably for the last time. It was amazing what Buck had done. For a moment in time, he took a group of people who were downtrodden and ostracized and gave them a chance to raise their lives to a level that they had never experienced. And, as it happened, they were happier, they had a purpose, the store prospered and Buck lived a ful昀椀lling life. Bill looked up. “Hey, Bill, you wanted to talk?” Janice said, interrupting Bill’s daydreaming. “Yes, I did, Janice. I think it’s time you became vice president here. It’s time for me to focus on other things here at the store — the store’s in great hands with you, so let’s make it of昀椀cial.” “Thanks, I’ll do my best. I know I can do it. Like I’ve been saying the last couple of years, I’m the boss, you’re just the owner.” Bill smiled and felt a sensation that he had grown comfortable with — vulnerability — and it felt right. 32