The part in the box looked exactly like the part on the order.
Kara turned it over.
"Wrong collar."
The supplier leaned across his counter. "Same outer size."
"Different seat. Different return opening."
He took it back, compared the underside with the drawing and stopped looking pleased about finding one in stock.
I had nearly paid for it.
The box had the right width. The part sat neatly in its padding, and the metal was cleaner than the pieces I had seen in the Hall store. I had taken all three facts as reasons to stop looking.
Kara turned the drawing toward me and waited until I found the underside view.
"Here?" I asked.
"Compare the opening."
Once she pointed it out, the difference was difficult to miss. That did not improve my opinion of the few moments when I had been ready to hand over the money.
The supplier put the box beside the drawing. He did not insist that the picture was wrong. I appreciated that much, though I would have appreciated the proper part more.
