They've got a flier up at work sent out by the local booze provider with discounts for restaurant workers. It brought back memories of a time when one of our liquor suppliers in Florida gave substantial discounts to the employees in the restaurant where I was working. But they would only allow four bottles per family. Well, one of my fellow employees knew I didn't drink, and he wanted me to buy four bottles of his favorite poison and he'd pay for it. I said "No, we do not believe in providing harmful substances to other people!" My coworker went absolutely berserk!
"It's none of your God damned business," he screamed, "if other people drink! If you can help me save a few dollars getting what I need for the holidays that's no skin off your nose! Whatever happens with the product is my responsibility."
"No!" I said, "If somebody comes to your house, gets drunk and tries to drive home, hits a station wagon full of kids and kills everybody in it, I would be just as responsible! I couldn't deal with that! Getting plowed every weekend may be your idea of a good time. But I can't take the responsibility of your actions while you're intoxicated. What you buy is up to you. But I'm not going to help you!"
My coworker screamed "You know, you're a damned asshole, that's what you are! There's no question about it! You worry about things that are simply not your concern, that are none of your business! You tell other people how to live."
"No I don't!" I answered, "I live my way, and part of my way is doing as little harm to people as possible! You can destroy yourself if you want to! But I won't help you."
My coworker went off in a complete rage! A little while later one of the waitresses came by and looked at me. "What?" I asked.
"I don't always agree with you," she remarked, "but I always admire the way you stand fast on your principles. I wish they included some of the things I stand for, but still your steadfastness is refreshing in this do everything for yourself world!"
"I think I just got a compliment!" I answered.
The waitress only smiled and headed off. A little while later the manager came in. He disappeared down front and a few minutes later came back to me. "Gerald," he began "I really wish you would.."
I held up my finger. "Don't wanna hear it!" I told him. "No discussion!" The manager shook his head and walked off. That was the last time I ever saw him. He went to a Christmas party a couple of nights later, got in a car wreck on the way home, and when he got out of the hospital fled the state to avoid prosecution. We got a new set of managers that were really sharp, and they really started to turn the restaurant around, but that's another story!

THE END

The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth. The trite subjects of human efforts, possessions, outward success, luxury have always seemed to me contemptible. ( Albert Einstein )