Auditing the Morning Slot

I stepped off the cashier counter first thing this morning and took over the painted metal top of the automated change kiosk. Resting flat on the enamel surface was a discarded gold-plated tie bar alongside a gleaming brass padlock shackle. When you run the whole facility, you inspect every high-value corner before the morning rush rolls in. I braced my clean kicks against a steel rivet, gripped the heavy gold tie bar with both hands, and levered it upright to wedge it firmly behind the curved brass shackle. With that golden barricade locked into place, my standard on this strip remains untouchable.