Panel 1 — A complete history
Commons warehouse blanket desk, June 21, 2230. An unnamed clerk offers a return slip to an unnamed adult borrower. A patched blue-gray blanket waits on the counter. Carla speaks entirely off frame throughout.
CLERK: For a blanket: name, bed, former address.
BORROWER: How far back does it get cold?
Panel 2 — What is being counted
The blanket's small cloth inventory tag and a fresh return slip lie beside a pencil. The clerk pauses. No personal details have been entered.
CARLA: Blanket number. Leave the sleeper off.
CLERK: But we need an address.
Panel 3 — Directions
The clerk prepares the new slip beside the blanket. It gives the blanket number and the Commons blanket desk as the return destination. The clerk's open drawer holds unused slips, not a household directory.
RETURN SLIP (enlarged detail): BLANKET 17 / RETURN TO: COMMONS BLANKET DESK
CARLA: Then put ours.
CLERK: So they can find us?
Panel 4 — Useful to a stranger
The borrower leaves with the blanket and its return slip. The clerk considers the drawer. No theft actually occurs.
CLERK: What if somebody steals the slips?
CARLA: They'll know where to return a blanket.