Edmund had returned to the drinking troughs where he'd seen the man earlier that day a whole hour before three o'clock for fear of being late.  He hadn't had much planned for the day anyway besides shoe-shopping, but in light of this potential job, he'd forgotten all about it.  Instead, he'd found Mable to tell her about the good news and treated her to some fresh fruit from the market.  They'd talked together on the beach for nearly the whole day.

It was the nicest time he'd had with Mable in a long time.  Of course things got better before he had to leave.

So Edmund sat beside the troughs, hoping and praying to whoever was listening he wouldn't make a fool of himself and that the man would come back and hold true to his promise.  As surreptitiously as the boy can manage, he looked at every person that passed before turning away.  Which, wasn't very.

What were the chances the other man would arrive early too, and Edmund would be caught doing something so unusual.  Was this unusual?  He had such a hard time knowing.