I am the maitre-d’hotel at this place, and I hate it.
I count the cups once again. The shortfall needs to be billed to a poor guy who cannot afford a paycut. What a Scrooge is the owner of this place!
1,2,3,4 … big … small … I count again, and report all is okay. The count does not tally, but who cares? I’ll find a way to replace it tomorrow. The lady next door is kind, and has saved the jobs of many people. I wonder what was she thinking about when she married the owner of this place.
(100 words)
Reena Saxena 
You might enjoy reading about the “Iroquois Rule of Six” which basically says that we tend to come up with an explanation or interpretation about someone else’s behavior, but before we act on that, we should generate additional possible explanations. https://petersironwood.com/2018/02/03/the-iroquois-rule-of-six/
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Thanks for sharing the link!
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Your reference to counting cups took me back to my teen job at a fast food joint. When you pay your employees as little as you can get away with, and boss them around so that they feel undervalued and threatened, all for the sake of productivity, is it any wonder that you are repaid in kind, with missing inventory and continuous turnover? That said, every job can teach us valuable lessons, the most valuable of which is what not to do, when we are the boss!
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You are so right! I find it akin to pizza delivery boys being penalized for delays, and the cuatomers directly or indirectly being charged for good service. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Kindness at its best. A very dear story. Nicely done.
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Thanks, Alicia!
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So often the owners of places pass on the costs of their ineptitude and tight-fistedness to their employees. Nicely described!
Na’ama
Here’s my entry for this prompt, if interested: https://naamayehuda.com/2018/09/28/the-service/
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Thanks!
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No easy answers in your story. At least he is able to keep a shred of his integrity for now. Nicley donel
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Thanks a lot!
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This is all too true! Very well-written.
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Thank you, Lisa!
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Relying on the charity of a neighbour is never going to improve the system. Organising the labour force in a trades union may do. Trades unions have achieved a great deal in the UK.
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IMHO, trade unions are losing steam in the era of robotization and artificial intelligence and unemployment. But yes, some counter-pressure is needed like we need an opposition party in Parliament.
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A scenario that is all too common, unfortunately. Excellent take on the prompt.
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Thanks, Franci!
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You’re welcome!
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So true, sometime profit comes first when a little piece of humanity and understanding makes the job a more pleasant experience.
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It could be profit, or it could be a misplaced theory of quality control or zero error working.
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Scrooge is putting it lightly. I wonder how long the kind lady will put up with him.
Click to read my FriFic tale!
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Destiny 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting.
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She was being kind to the owner, who is a miser?
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Thanks 😊
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It’s certainly an unfair system.
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Most businesses are unfair to the bottom of the pyramid.
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ahhh – I forgot about how some businesses are so miserly to where it hurts the little guy – and I like how counting cups was presented and you gave us a feel for the maitre-d and the owner and the two others – nice
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Thank you so much!
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🙂
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Nice twist at the end 🙂
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Thanks!
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Good on the maitre’d, but how long before they are caught out?
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As and when they run out of luck 🙂
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