"If we don't have any customers this evening, Bandershanks, I
tell you what we can do: we can sweep and clean up and start
taking inventory. It's a good day for that."
"Take what, Papa?"
"Inventory. We'll count things. Go from shelf to shelf to see
how much flour and salt and all such as that we've got on hand.
Then, next week when I'm in town, I'll know what all to buy.
That's taking inventory."
"Oh."
"For one thing, I've got to lay in a good stock of sardines
and soda crackers. Lots more cheese, too, 'cause when cotton
ginning starts, men will be flocking in here at dinner
time-'specially on days when they have to line up their wagons to
wait their turn at the gin. That's when I make my money,
Bandershanks."
I wasn't half listening to Papa. I had already lifted the lid
of the candy showcase and poked my head inside so I could see all
the boxes of good candy.
"Fact is, Bandershanks, fall of the year is the only time
folks in the settlement have any cash to speak of. See, when they
sell cotton, they can settle up what they owe me.
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