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relinquish that kind of power. His “say so” was all that mattered unless his wife superseded his authority, which she did every now and again.
    Grinning wildly, Lem thanked Marvin as he jotted down the serial number on an order and pay pad. “Go get ’em, Lem,” he cheered, as Rodney marched down the aisle between televisions and high-end stereos.
    Rodney was almost as tall as Marvin, a dusky shade of brown, twenty pounds heavier, and often complained about losing his boyish physique because of fifty-hour work weeks tied to a desk. They were alike in many respects, both of them shared the same disrespect for the way the boss pimped merchandise and cheated on his wife. “Hey, Marvin, where’s Mr. Mercer?” he asked anxiously, slapping Marvin’s right palm homeboy style. “I need to get something to eat before I fall out. Reeka’s starving too. She’s getting mean.”
    â€œGetting?” Marvin said, suggesting that was her most notable personality trait. He craned his head to peer over the tall shelves. “Naw, I don’t see him. Tell you what, though, take Lem with you and dash out. He’s wrapping up something and I’ve talked to him already. I’ll get Reeka’s back while y’all skate. She’s a selling machine when she’s hungry. I’ll slide her some lunch money and make it cool with her. Now, beat it before the old man gets done with one of his…meetings.”
    â€œOh, Mercer’s in freak mode? It figures. He’s been cracking a whip until you showed up. I just want to be around when wifey rolls up on him like she did last week. I ain’t gonna tell you who he had bent over the sink in the restroom because I don’t like to gossip, but Lem’s mama left with a crook in her back and something in her sack, no charge, no tax.”
    â€œAhh, man, I could’ve lived my whole life without knowing that,” Marvin whispered regretfully. “A single momma don’t stand a chance around him.”
    â€œHumph, not if she wants something nice for baby boy’s twenty-first birthday, on the house. Yep, Lem’s legal on Friday. I’m taking him out for a few. See if you can get a hall pass from Chandelle.”
    â€œMan, I don’t need a pass,” Marvin huffed adamantly. “Shoot, I’m running things at my house.”
    â€œThat’s what I thought,” Rodney chuckled. “See you in a minute. Bring you something back?”
    â€œNaw, I’m straight. Just don’t get lost out there. Reeka’s on the prowl.” Rodney headed left as she stormed in from the right. “Hey, Reeka,” Marvin greeted, with a manufactured grin. “Here’s twenty dollars on your lunch, but first I want to see who can rack up the most sales in a half hour. If you can beat me, I’ll make it forty.” Of course she bit, made an immediate U-turn, and shot off in the other direction. Within the first ten minutes Marvin had arrived, he’d arranged a workable lunch schedule to spell valuable associates he cared about, learned more than he ever wanted to about Lem’s mother, a mere sixteen years older than her son, and he convinced Reeka to shine brighter than she thought probable on an empty stomach. Marvin was talented like that. His uncanny ability to spot a dilemma and resolve it with little effort was invaluable. But for the time being, he was proving that no one could match his prowess on the sales floor, including Reeka on her best day while hyperfunctioning on fumes.
    When the doors closed, Appliance World had amassed a record sales day. Mr. Mercer didn’t give a flip who took a break after seeing the cash register printouts. All he could see was money rolling in, more than ever before, and he had a dedicated team to thank for it.
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    At Dooney Does It barber shop, chatter resonated in the five-chair salon. During his last eighteen-month stretch in the