That distinction mattered.
The manager arrived.
“Is there a problem?”
The employee shook her head quickly.
“No.”
The old man said, “I’m making a deposit.”
The manager looked at the seven folded bills.
His eyes stayed there slightly too long.
“Cash?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
The old man looked at him.
“Does it matter?”
The manager smiled.
“Just trying to help.”
“One hundred forty dollars.”
The manager nodded as if a private suspicion had been confirmed.
“Then the ATM will be fine.”
“I’ve already said I prefer a teller.”
“We’re trying to reserve teller assistance for transactions that actually require personal service.”
The old man’s expression did not change.
“Does depositing money into a bank account not qualify as banking service anymore?”
The assistant’s eyes widened slightly.
The manager’s smile disappeared.
“It qualifies.”
“Good.”
The old man stepped toward the counter.
The manager moved with him.
“You have an account here?”
“Yes.”
“Checking?”
“Among others.”
The manager gave a quiet laugh.
It was barely audible.
But the elderly man heard.
“So you do have an account.”
“I just told you I did.”
The manager looked toward the teller.
“Take care of it.”
Then, before turning away, he added:
“Make sure the account’s active.”
The old man looked at him.
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
The manager shrugged.
“We see people come in with old checks, closed accounts, overdrafts.”
“Do I look overdrawn?”
The assistant looked down.
The manager’s face changed.
“I didn’t say that.”
“No.”
“You just decided my account might not be active before anybody looked at it.”
The manager’s jaw tightened.
“Sir, I’m trying to run a branch.”
“And I’m trying to deposit one hundred forty dollars.”
“Then deposit it.”
“I intend to.”
The manager turned away.
The elderly man walked to the nearest open teller window.
The young teller there looked perhaps twenty-six.
Brown hair pulled into a simple bun.
Gray bank uniform.
No expensive jewelry.
A small silver cross at her throat.
Her smile looked genuine, but nervous.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.”
“How can I help you?”
He placed the deposit slip and money on the counter.
“Cash deposit.”
“Absolutely.”
She counted the bills.
One hundred forty.
Then began typing.