Forty - Six

Craig Wanted Mandy to start work at the wine bar that same evening, but Mandy told him she’d had a word with her employer, Mario, who was insisting on a month’s notice. Craig went round to see Mario.

‘Hi!’ the chip shop owner greeted Craig, feigning surprise. ‘To what do I owe this visit?’

‘You know bloody well why I’m here, Mario,’ said Craig. ‘It’s about Mandy.’

Mario frowned and shrugged elaborately. ‘What about her?’

‘She ain’t working for you no more. As and from today.’

Mario waved a stubby finger back and forth like a metronome. ‘No way, Mr. Thomas. No way.’

‘What d’you mean, “no way”?’

‘Like I say to Mandy, the law’s the law. There are regulations. You can’t walk out. Not like that.’

‘Mandy can. Just watch her.’

Mario glanced down into a fresh batch of batter he was preparing, and cleared his throat nosily and swallowed. Craig felt like smacking the chip shop owner but controlled himself, although he could feel the blood rise in his neck with every moment that passed.

‘See,’ began Mario, pursing his lips and shaking his head, ‘Mandy’s not part time.’

‘So?’ snapped Craig.

‘She’s a full-time employee. So she has to give proper notice. One month. Minimum.’

Craig shook his head. ‘Not Mandy. I’m sure you’ll make an exception in her case and bend the rules.’

Mario gave an explosive laugh. ‘Make an exception? Why should I do that? Hmm?’ He pointed threateningly at Craig. ‘You can’t go around stealing staff like that.’

‘Oh come on, Mario. Stick a notice in the window and you’ll fill her place in no time.’

‘It’s not convenient. She walks out of this job and - let me tell you - no wages for this week. No, sir.’

Craig smiled confidently as he thought about his trump card. ‘You’d better pay her the money she’s owed for this week. You don’t want to make things difficult for yourself.’

‘Me!’ said Mario, thumping his chest with two fingers. ‘Why should I make it difficult for myself? I have the law on my side. You can’t just walk out of a job. And if she does, not only will she get no pay for this week, she’ll get a solicitor’s letter. I want recompense. Consequential loss. You see, I know about the law.’

‘Good,’ said Craig, his eyes glinting with anticipated triumph. ‘So you’ll know about sexual harassment in the workplace.’

Not a muscle moved in Mario’s face. After a brief pause, Craig saw his Adam’s-apple moving as he swallowed.

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Don’t you? Then let me spell it out for you. Mandy’s told me all about the way you try to touch her up in the back room. So if you wanna make a song and dance about her leaving...’

Mario smiled, almost a sneer, dropped his voice and leaned closer to Craig, trying to convey a worldly, lad-to-lad camaraderie, even though he was old enough to be Mandy’s father. ‘It was only a bit of friendly ... you know.’

‘Oh, I know,’ said Craig, nodding seriously. ‘In fact I know what your missus’d make of it. And these things can get blown up out of all proportion. Before you know it: wallop! It’s hit the front pages and your life’s in ruins.’

‘You’re bluffing.’

‘Am I? Just try me.’

Mario stared into Craig’s eyes for a moment, then looked away. He pursed his lips and shrugged, conceding defeat.

‘Ok. Mandy won’t be back no more. Fair enough.’

‘And what about her wages for this week?’

Mario, seeing himself as the injured party, suddenly thumped the counter, making the salt and vinegar jump. ‘Don’t push it, Mr. Thomas. Don’t push it.’

Craig moved closer to the counter and leaned menacingly towards Mario. ‘I’ll take her wages now. In cash.’

Mario stepped back nimbly, out of head butt reach.

‘What makes you think...’ he began.

Craig interrupted him. ‘And if the sexual harassment charge makes headlines, think of your children. Their friends at school will have a laugh. You know what kids are like. They can be vicious. So what’s it to be, Mario? After all, she’s worked for that money. She’s entitled to it.’

Mario thought it over for a moment, then opened the till and took out seven ten pound notes. He slammed them on the counter and sighed loudly..

‘That’s all there is in cash.’

Craig put on his hardest expression and put out the flat of his hand. ‘There’s another four tens missing.’

Mario fumbled in his back pocket. Craig noticed his hand was shaking. He brought out his wallet and handed over two twenties.

‘That’s it!’ he said with finality.

Craig grinned as he picked up the money. On his way out, he turned at the door and pointed to the sad display of pies and wrinkled sausages.

‘If you want my advice, Mario, change your cooking oil regularly. You’re letting this business down.’