The Six O'Clock Ritual

"The Woman Who Came at Six O'Clock" takes place in a small diner-style restaurant over a period of about thirty minutes. The story starts when the clock strikes six and a prostitute walks through the door, as she does every day at six o'clock. José, the fat restaurant owner, calls the woman "queen," a pet name that he usually uses to address her. He wipes the counter with a rag, as he does after every customer comes in.

The woman is obviously on edge and says that José needs to be more of a gentleman—indicating that he should light the unlit cigarette that is between her lips. José lights her cigarette and tells the woman she's beautiful. She says that flattery will not get her to pay him, and he mistakes her disagreeable mood for indigestion. He offers her...