Final answer:
The 'parking attendant' deal appears to be an allegorical term for the autonomy that an individual in servitude negotiated with his master, allowing him to handle his own employment and keep some earnings for a fee.
Step-by-step explanation:
The deal that Thomas made with his parking attendant is a historical narrative that likely refers to the arrangements made by an individual in a servitude situation, similar to what has been described by Frederick Douglass in his autobiography. In such a context, Thomas would have sought to hire his own time from his master, proposing to handle his own employment contracts and keep some of his wages in exchange for a set weekly fee paid to his master.
Based on the excerpts provided, it can be inferred that such a person in servitude would negotiate terms that allowed for some autonomy in employment, yet still demanded a financial obligation to the master or overseer. In one scenario, the individual was to pay a regular fee (three dollars), handle personal expenses, and maintain employment or face the loss of this limited freedom. No explicit mention of an attendant is made, and thus it seems to be more an allegory for the autonomy the individual negotiated for within their oppressive circumstances.