Janie, letting her voice go good-old-girlish, says she might could, then quotes a figure that would put a strain on most people's gratefulness if she weren't so sure they'd smile knowingly to themselves if she asked for less.

Source: Hribal, CJ. 1995. 'The Clouds in Memphis' in Triquarterly 93. (author is from Chicago, IL) Full Context: and steel wool and plastic sheeting and rags. Also a box or two of medical examining gloves. Often the owners want the woodwork redone to go with their newly textured walls. They decide this once Janie's already painting. Then they say they'd like everything finished by Friday, Saturday the latest. They're having a dinner party that evening and need the day to air everything out. Could you come in early? they'd like to know. We'd be ever so grateful. # Janie, letting her voice go good-old-girlish, says she might could, then quotes a figure that would put a strain on most people's gratefulness if she weren't so sure they'd smile knowingly to themselves if she asked for less. # Janie used to worry whether she was charging the right amount, too high or too low, and then found out that she was charging what a black painting crew grateful to get the work would charge. She discovered that she could get more work, or the right kind of it, if she was priced nearer