As Henry reached the teller, his ID—faded and creased from years of use—raised concerns. The teller hesitated, unsure whether to approve the withdrawal without a manager’s override. Clara overheard the exchange and swooped in.

“What’s the problem here?” she snapped.

Henry, flustered, said that his ID was valid, just old, and that he had been banking with Crestfield for nearly three decades. Clara didn’t bother checking his account history. Instead, she raised her voice loud enough for other people in line to hear.

“Sir, we cannot just hand out thousands of dollars to anyone who walks in with a smudged card and a shaky signature. We have standards. Maybe you should ask your children for help next time.”