Final answer:
Zerkow counted out the price of all Maria's junk for Stevie's negligee. Each item was assessed, and its corresponding price was painstakingly counted out to Maria.
Step-by-step explanation:
Zerkow finalized the transaction for Stevie's negligee by meticulously tallying the value of Maria's belongings, expressing reluctance with every piece of money as though it were drawn from the essence of his very veins.
Each item was assessed, and its corresponding price was painstakingly counted out to Maria.
The entire process unfolded with a sense of begrudging on Zerkow's part, as if parting with the monetary equivalent of each possession was a personal sacrifice.
Despite the evident reluctance, the financial transaction was completed, bringing the affair to a definitive conclusion.
Zerkow's meticulous counting and the symbolic association of money with his life force underscored the gravity of the exchange, painting a vivid picture of the emotional weight attached to parting with possessions in this deal for Stevie's negligee.