A neighbor repaired a deck while the narrator was at work, then refused cash because a circular saw had been pawned. The narrator realized the saw had been taken from their tools and that the neighbor needed money to retrieve it. The neighbor asked for a ride to a pawn shop near local stores. The pawn shop visit allowed the neighbor to buy the saw back, and the narrator’s tools were returned and the deck remained repaired. The narrator later reflected on how the same day could end well for one person while leaving another with a loss, showing the uneven effects of an economy that pressures poor and working people.
"“Thanks for your help today,” I said, holding the cash out to him. But he shook his head. I pushed the cash toward him again. He brushed it away. “Why not? It looks great!” I said, nodding toward my deck. “Because I pawned your circular saw.” I had left my tools out for him to use. “Dude, that was my dad's saw!”"
"“I know! I'm sorry,” he said. “I'm going to get it back!” “Please do.” Al stood up but didn't move. After an awkward moment, I realized he needed the money from me to go get the saw out of the pawn shop. I handed it to him, but he still stood there. “What?” I asked. “Can you give me a ride?”"
"We drove to the American Cash and Pawn at the edge of our neighborhood. It stood between Kroger and the laundromat where it cost $20 a week to do two loads, because the half-broken dryers would eat your quarters until you went home defeated with your jeans still wet. Al went into the pawn shop and soon came back out grinning and waving my saw above his head. He'd set things right and I appreciated that."
"That was many years ago now, but I still think about that day and the strange economy we live in. Everything had worked out fine for me that day: I went to bed that night with a repaired deck and all my tools locked up in the shed. But Al came out 10 dollars"
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