Pulling up to the window, Bri stuffed a wad of $1s, several inches thick, into an envelope. She yawned as she signed her deposit slip on the steering wheel.
"Good afternoon, Bri-Anne. How are you today, honey?" The voice crinkled through the speaker as the teller drawer shot open.
Bri smiled at the lady whose gray permed curls framed her face like a silver halo. Louise knew her name even before she slid her deposit book into the drawer. Bri's first name was actually Brianna, but Louise always pronounced it like a southern double name, Bri-Anne, drawing out the second part.
"I'm doing all right, a little tired. How are you?"
"I'm fine. What can I do for you today?"
"Could you deposit $600 of that in my checking and give me $200 back in $10s and $20s? We had a really good week at The Water Dog, so I wanted to go ahead and take care of these tips."
"Sure thing, honey."
Louise fastidiously arranged the crisp new bills and slipped them in an envelope with a receipt. She placed it in the drawer, but the drawer did not shoot open.
While Bri waited, Louise cast a furtive glance over her shoulder and then peered out the window behind Bri's car. She leaned into the little mic and whispered, "Bri-Anne?" She drew out the "Anne" even longer than usual. Her hushed tone was amplified through the speaker system.
Bri also instinctively checked her rearview. There was no one behind her. What was going on? "Uh, yes?" She resisted the temptation to also begin whispering.
"Bri-Anne, you know Andrew, don't you? The one who helped set up your CD?"
Bri nodded.
"He's been talkin' about you. He was wonderin' if you're seeing anyone."
Bri wondered if there was a breach of confidentiality somewhere in this transaction. "Oh! No, I'm not."
Louise glanced behind her again before continuing, "Would it be all right if he called you? He's a real nice boy." As she said this, she shook her head for emphasis on the word 'real.'
Bri wondered if it was safe to go out with someone your bank teller set you up with. On the other hand, this guy already had access to all her personal and financial information. And he did have a steady job at a bank…
"Yes, that would be ok."
Louise beamed and the teller drawer shot open with Bri's requested cash. "I'll let him know. You take care now, Bri-Anne."
"Thanks. You too!"
It just goes to show you that small town, family run businesses care more about the company and client relationship than the transaction.
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash
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