Employer

Chapter Four

It came as no surprise to Mr. Braeburn when a large 'non-profit' organization offered to cover the incompetent employee's legal costs should he take Mr. Braeburn to court. Mr. Braeburn was well aware that the organization was offering this because of the free publicity which would almost assuredly ensure them massive amounts of donations. Non-profit. What a laugh. Their wages were nearly as high as his take from the coffee shops in New York City.

It is the human condition to scam our neighbor.

Mr. Braeburn shook his head. Well, he would be happy to set them straight on one account; Mr. Duncan Óg Braeburn would not be harassed into a social cookie cutter mold. And Duncan Óg Braeburn would darn well do as he pleased. Money wasn't worth much if you couldn't buy what you wanted with it.

Pleased with himself for coming up with something so profound, Mr. Braeburn dug out the leather walking shoes that Wilhelm Brandenburg had customized to his feet a year ago in the Tyrol. They were his Statement shoes. He wore them to functions where it was all about who had the most power and money. He loved to stride into places with the buttery leather shining and the careful hand stitching invisible, and tell people who asked that they were genuine Wilhelm Brandenburg, and then give them a pitying smile when they were at a loss.

Today, Mr. Braeburn and his Brandenburg shoes would walk all over that incompetent scammer. Watch me! He thought, with a smile.

Well, the world was watching. Gay pride had become such a weapon lately that all business owners had bowed under the pressure. Except for Mr. Braeburn. Upon entering his public office, Mr. Braeburn was besieged by what he called la canaille and what most people called The Press.
As the Press all babbled for a statement, Mr. Braeburn conscientiously straightened his sleeves and adjusted his cuff links, which were black diamonds today, before answering. When he was ready to be filmed, he turned to them and smiled.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. What may I do for you today? Something tells me you're not just here for my lovely coffee."
After the mandatory laughter, the press began their babble twice as insistently, : Did you fire a gay man? Are you secretly a homophobe? Is this coffee shop a right wing promoter? Are you going to hire the gay man back on?
Mr. Braeburn smiled at them benevolently before answering.
"Yes, my manager, acting in my best interests, fired a man whose private life is an inappropriate topic of conversation. He will not be hired again because he did not provide the quality service which they deserve to our customers. Am I secretly a homophobe? That does seem a rather irrelevant question, but the answer is No. I am not secretly a homophobe, I've always been very open about that. My coffee shops tailor the experience to the clientele which frequents them, so we have a perfect place for any type of person. My shop on Raleigh Street here in town is often used as a meeting place for SPCA and PETA, whereas the coffee shop out by Starvinsky Lane is used by the Three Percenters and the local militia after their trainings every week. I appreciate the business of all the groups equally. They're why I can afford to go bungee jumping in Brazil every winter."

"You're a homophobe? Is that why you won't hire back this employee?"

"That certainly is part of the reason, but even if he was a straight white man with a wife and children, I wouldn't hire him back if he won't serve my customers to their satisfaction."

"Can you elaborate on being a homophobe? Do you hate gay men, or do you hate lesbians too? Do you support right wing groups that advocate against gay rights?"

"I think that using a pleasure God meant to be a gift to married couples as a thank you for giving Him children, and perverting it into a sterile, amoral and selfish thing is disgusting and destructive to society. I don't hate people who do those things, but I don't want them around impressionable people like children and young adults, and I won't have them in my own life. None of us are above temptation, and I don't want to have that poison in my life. I pray for them every night that they should find true happiness and true love, though. I don't support any groups with political agendas, and I don't give money to any social groups either. I donate equipment to the local fire department and I pay nurses to stand in planned parenthood buildings and offer information, aid and emotional and financial support to women and girls who find themselves pregnant. That is the extent of my public charities."
"Do you think that women shouldn't have the right to get an abortion?"
"That's all for today. My time is very valuable, and I haven't got the time allotted for a full life interview today. Ok, I have to go to work now. Thank you for coming out, it's always lovely to see your cheery faces!" and ignoring the protesting and shouted questions, Mr. Braeburn walked into his office and picked up his phone and notebook. Today would be so full of phone calls.