"Yes, Miss," the teller said. He eyed her suspiciously.
How long can this go on? she thought despairingly. He'll be here in another minute!
"I have the amount. It's the same as your check stub shows," the teller said. "You want it all?"
"Yes."
"Just take this over to the table, there, and fill it in."
Oh, God! she thought.
She crossed to the table. Her hand was shaking. The free pen blotted. She ripped out the check and crumpled it into a ball. Her breathing was shallow. She found her own pen. Shakily she filled in another check.
The teller looked at it. He waved it dry. He held it up. "Just a, moment, Miss. I'd like to verify the signature."
Her nails dug into her palms. She moved her feet uneasily. She glanced toward the door.
She fumbled in her handbag for a cigarette. She found a stale pack, shook one out. She lit it with a safety match and extinguished the match with a nervous flick of her arm. She inhaled.