Page 80 of The Holy Grail
“But you should have,” Jules said flatly. “You’re the one who handles all the time cards and payroll, and you should have noticed the hours for the waitresses didn’t match the schedule, because they were being honest … and that should have alerted you to the fact Evan was sending people home before clean-up. At the very least, it should have made you curious as towhyEvan was sending all theservershome so early, but keeping an extrabartenderon the clock—a bartender Evan doesn’t like to work with, as you well know. That alone should have started a conversation, which could have changed a lot of things, but unfortunately, it didn’t.” She softened her voice a little. “So, to fix the time card issue, I’m recommending a community computer be set up in the back hallway with a user-friendly software installed on it. Everyone will sign in when they arrive, sign out when they leave, and payroll will be electronically and automatically calculated. That’s going to be the most complicated change, but I’ll go over all that with you.”
Evan addressed his brother and sister. “What about Lars? Can we finally get rid of him, like I’ve wanted to for months?”
Jules nodded. “He definitely needs to go.”
Everett and Evelyn both nodded in agreement, which made Evan look extremely thrilled as he said, “Thank God. I can’t wait to fire his ass.”
“No,” Jules told Evan. “I know how much you want to be the one to do it, but I think it should be Everett, because otherwise Lars might try and make the case he got fired because you hate him, and it was an unfair termination.”
“Make the case to who?”
“To whoever contacts him from the unemployment office after he applies for benefits.”
“You really think he’ll apply? Given the reason he’s being fired?”
“Honestly, I don’t know, but if he does, I don’t want him to qualify for any, because he’s a garbage employee. And the best way to make sure hedoesn’tqualify is to have Everettfire him, so in the event Larsdoesapply for benefits, the claim can then be contested with proof of submitting fraudulent time cards … and your contentious working relationship is kept out of it.”
“All right,” Evan said, somewhat grudgingly.
For the next ten minutes, the three siblings discussed the firing of Lars (when it would be done), the promotion of one of the servers (Mandy) to replace him, and the hiring of a new server, all of which would need to be done very quickly.
When they were finished, Jules got their attention again. “I do have one last thing. I’d actually like to circle back to the shirts, if you don’t mind.”
Evan’s eyebrows pinched together as he wondered what she was up to.
“I’ve actually given this a lot of thought,” she said, “and I think it would be a good idea to get new ones made. Evan didn’t get a say the first time around, so I’d like to put him in charge of the new shirts.”
“Hell, yeah,” Evan agreed with a smile.
She held up a hand, knowing he might not like the rest of her idea. “I’m not proposing to get rid of the original shirts. I know you fucking hate them, but most people think they’re cute, and I know this because I’ve asked a lot of people that come into the bar, okay? What I’d like to see is maybe two more designs, similar to the first, one with Evelyn on the receiving end of the most abuse, and the other with Everett on the receiving end. Is that fair?”
Evan considered that for a long moment, then nodded. “That’s fair.”
“Good. I’d like the waitstaff to have one of each, and they can rotate them each night—to their discretion—and break things up a bit. This also helps so they don’t have to wash their shirt every day.” She looked from sibling to sibling. “You still with me?”
After receiving three nods, Jules continued. “I’d also like you, and all bartenders to have different shirts. Something a little more ‘professional’ if you will, with just ‘Three Amigos’ on it so it differentiates levels of staff. Polo shirts work well, but the three of you can choose whatever style you want, as long as you make the decisiontogether.”
“All right,” Evelyn said, reaching over to pat Evan’s arm. “I really am sorry. I just … I didn’t realize how much I wasn’t listening to you.”
“And I didn’t realize how much I wasn’t paying attention,” Everett added, regret in his voice. “I’m sorry.”
Jules let the siblings share a nice moment, and when it was over, and they all looked over at her, somewhat expectantly, she told them, “That’s pretty much all I have for now, unless you have any questions?”
When none appeared to be forthcoming, Jules smiled. “Well, then, in that case, I think I’ll let Evan take over.”
As her words sunk in, Evan’s eyes widened comically. “Take over … what?”
“Take over the rest of the meeting,” she clarified.
“Why would I do that?”
Grabbing a chair and parking her ass on it, Jules said, “So you can tell Everett and Evelyn your ideas for the bar. You have their attention, and I’m sure they’re willing to listen, so just tell them everything you previously told me.”
Evan suddenly felt like he was back in the third grade, and had just been called upon to work out a math problem on the chalkboard in front of the entire class. He was torn between the urge to throttle Jules and to kneel at her feet in gratitude for giving him a platform, such as it was.
He was also overcome with the urge to throw back another shot of Crown, but resisted. He needed to make the most of this moment he’d been given, by someone who believed in him and his visions, and was making her support known.
This was one of the few times he could recall anyone ever having done that for him, and it made his heart pound faster with appreciation.
