Discretion
Bartender’s Dilemma
During our weekly staff meeting, Crystal handed me a note that rattled me. She had been my bar-back for a few years and had an uncanny ability to ferret out information about everyone at Murphy’s Pub. The old man, as we called him, was sitting at the head of the long high-top table. Jesse, the evening shift manager was sitting to the right of Owen Murphy.
I opened Crystal’s note and read that the old man was definitely selling the place.
The rumor was that Mr. Murphy’s son Declan would be taking over the pub and that nothing would change. We all knew Declan couldn’t stay sober long enough to be given a position of authority but hoped that somehow things could go on as they had been. Mr. Murphy got right to the point and said he hoped the new owners would let us keep our jobs, but with a wink that disarmed many a patron through the years said,
“If I were young, and I were you, I’d start looking around for a job.”
He thanked us for our loyal service and handed the meeting over to Jesse.
We were careful to hear the door close behind the owner before we erupted with questions for Jesse, who did the best he could to answer them.
No. The sale was not completed. There weren’t new owners at this point, and he was tactful and discreet in answering any questions…
