“No.”
Pearl smiled.
“I need to order invitations.”
That got his attention.
“How many?”
“Twenty.”
He glanced toward the self-service stations.
“You can submit it through the computer.”
Pearl removed the envelope.
“I wrote everything down.”
She placed the pages on the counter.
“Cream paper, blue border, and these little flowers if possible.”
Evan looked at the first page.
Pearl had written:
EVELYN BENNETT’S 80TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
APRIL 12
2:00 P.M.
ST. MATTHEW’S FELLOWSHIP HALL
Then the address.
Then the RSVP information.
Beside it, Pearl had drawn a tiny flower.
Nothing sophisticated.
But clear.
Evan’s mouth tightened.
“We don’t take handwritten orders.”
Pearl blinked.
“Oh.”
“This isn’t how it works.”
She glanced at the computers.
“I thought somebody here could enter it.”
“You enter it.”
Pearl smiled apologetically.
“I’m not very quick with those design programs.”
Evan pushed the pages slightly back toward her.
“Then you’ll need somebody to help you.”
Pearl paused.
“That’s what I thought I was doing.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“I came here because the website says design assistance.”
“That means if you have a design issue.”
“I have the design.”
She pointed.
“I only need someone to type what I already wrote.”
Evan stared at the pages.
Then gave a short laugh.
Not cruel enough that he could later be accused of openly laughing at her.
Just enough.
Pearl heard it.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Is something funny?”
“No.”
His mouth still held the smile.
“We just don’t do dictation.”
“I’m not dictating.”
“You’re giving me handwritten notes and asking me to build the file.”
“Yes.”
“That’s basically dictation.”
Pearl felt the first stir of embarrassment.
Not anger yet.
Something smaller.
The feeling of becoming a problem in somebody else’s day.
“I’m happy to pay for your time.”
“That’s not the point.”
“What is the point?”
“You need to submit a digital file.”
Pearl looked toward the row of computers.
“Could you show me how?”
Evan sighed.
“The instructions are on the screen.”
Pearl remained still.
“All right.”
She gathered the pages.
Then looked at him.
“If I make the file myself, can you print it?”
“Yes.”
“Cream paper?”
“If we have it.”
“You do.”
Evan frowned.
“How do you know?”
Pearl pointed toward the display behind him.
A sample card labeled IVORY LINEN stood beside another labeled CREAM MATTE.
“Oh.”
She smiled.
“That one.”
He glanced at it.
“Fine.”
Pearl walked toward the nearest computer.
She placed her purse beside the keyboard.
The screen displayed six large options.
PRINT DOCUMENT.
PHOTO PRINTING.
DESIGN PROJECT.
SCAN.
FAX.
UPLOAD FROM PHONE.
Pearl pressed DESIGN PROJECT.
A second screen appeared.
CARDS.
POSTERS.
FLYERS.
INVITATIONS.
BUSINESS.
Pearl smiled.
“See?”
She whispered to herself.
“Not difficult.”
She selected invitations.
Dozens of templates appeared.
Wedding invitations.
Baby showers.
Graduations.
Birthdays.
Business events.
Some had gold leaves.
Some had watercolor balloons.
Some had photographs.