Bayside Café Chap 9
How things work
A/N: There will be some big time jumps in this story. It will never be as detailed as AND LOVE, with which it will intersect (Collide) before too long. Then this story will become part of that JAMKO story.
888888888
BAYSIDE CAFÉ
The 4 owners are meeting again with Michael. Gertrude Kingsbury goes home in 3 days; she lives in Liverpool, England – the birthplace of the Beatles. She has promised to research a crumpet supplier for Michael.
"Mike, do you have a counter salary request for us?" Vern asks. The ownership quartet listens intently.
"Yes, Ellen and I talked it over. She has recently been offered an additional source of income, which she gladly accepted. So, I am content with my $5,000/month salary for the 1st year. During this year I intend to improve Bayside, show my worth, and at year's end ask for a raise."
"I get the feeling that you will deserve it, Mr. Dixon." Mabel Henderson opines.
The others cautiously nod.
They spend time reviewing Michael's prioritized list of needs and requests. He asks about their willingness to invest capital in order to push Bayside toward a 1st class operation. He gets the feeling that they had realized, too late, that they had bought a pig in a poke*. He also saw determination on their faces – they were NOT going to leave him or Bayside in the lurch.
Michael was satisfied with their commitment; their level of willingness to invest capital. This 1st year was crucial!
888888888
MIDDLE ISLAND ELEMENTARY
Mrs. Reynolds is preparing Abby's grade report. She is very pleased. Abby is achieving all A grades. The youngster has even shown leadership potential among her peers. The teacher couldn't be more pleased. Before she drops the report in the mail, she pens a note:
Mr. and Mrs. Dixon,
I am pleased to send you Abigail's grade report. She is doing very well; you can be very proud of her. I hope you reward her in appropriate ways. In her reading cohort Abby shows leadership potential. We are trying to gently encourage that.
I will continue to encourage and support her here at school; please do the same at home.
Sincerely,
Helen Reynolds
888888888
ST VIC'S CARDIOLOGY
After doing 2 cardiac videos, Ellen Dixon asked for $1,000/video. They were more work than she had anticipated. She would not settle for doing less than her very best. Dr. Brust readily approved her request. Over 3 years she completed a series of 12 videos.
Dr. Brust asked her several times if she would leave the hospital, come to his clinic, and be his head nurse. She always shook her head, gave him an affectionate hug, and politely declined with a smile.
His requests gradually stopped. The professional affection never did. It was well earned, on a 2-way street.
INTENSIVE CARE
Ellen worked her way up to assistant head nurse. She knew that her 2-year degree kept her from the top spot; but as she watched her colleagues above her, she knew she was making the right choice. She saw that as one climbed the professional ladder; their time was soaked up more and more by meetings and paperwork. She desired the hands-on part of nursing CARE. She was good, very good at it. And patients as well as colleagues noticed and appreciated her efforts.
She would routinely eat supper with Michael and Abby at Bayside. He had a large leather couch in his office. Ellen would pick Abby up at school; Abs backpack overflowing with books. I swear, that kid was a walking library! His girls would collapse on the couch – Abs to read, mom to do what little paperwork was needed.
He would occasionally pop in with something to taste. They ate at a little table in the kitchen, while he kept things humming around them. As the dining room thinned out, Ellen and Abby would join the staff in cleanup. So everyone could go home a smidge earlier. This developed a loyalty among staff that money cannot buy. Annual feedback that Michael and the owners sought from staff showed this.
When a shipment of crumpets came in, Bayside advertised their availability as widely as they could. BREAKFAST ONLY!
Breakfast diners would always increase when the distinctive English treat was available. Then gradually taper off. He always wondered if breakfast was worth serving. He didn't have the data to drive a decision such as that. Dreaming.
8888888
STONY BROOK OPPORTUNITY
At the beginning of year 8 for Michael, Ellen and Abby, Dr. Brust asked Ellen for a meeting in his office. Abby was starting 8th grade and Bayside was humming. Ellen was safely ensconced in cardiology and ICU at St. Vic. She wondered what was up.
"Welcome Ellen, it's so nice go see you." The two long-time friends embrace then are sated. He offers her bottled water, she accepts.
"I have been given a unique and special opportunity . . . and I could think of no one I would rather share it with than you."
"You flatter me, doc."
"No, it's true. Listen my dear. I had discussed with Elizabeth – and had decided to work another 6-8 years. Then I received an offer. To move to Stony Brook. I would chair cardiology until I retire."
Ellen covers her mouth with her hands. She knows what's coming. Can she refuse?
"I accepted on one condition."
"Ah . . . do I-
"You . . . I accepted if I could bring along a special assistant. A nurse who would work where I assigned her-
"Your personal servant-
"My right hand; without whom I function at far less efficiency, and no JOY!"
His eyes sparkle, and she gets a glimpse of what she means to Dr. Brust.
"Ok, what would be my options?" She's resigned to accepting his 'offer', albeit with not a little reluctance.
"1) Head nurse in my office is always on the table for you. You know that."
Ellen nods, she's known that for a long time. She's not entirely sure why she has never jumped at the chance.
"2) Assistant head nurse in either the ICU or CICU. 3) Assistant head nurse in the cardiac Cath lab. That last option has a head nurse who desires to retire in 1 year; so, moving up is a real possibility."
"With my 2-year RN?" She frowns.
"Yes, even with that. The Cath lab would be day shift plus on-call."
Ellen looks intently at her trusted mentor. Cath lab would be new; it intrigues her. "Do I have some time to consider? To talk this over with Michael and Abby?"
"Yes, of course. May I ask if you lean one way or the other?"
"I am definitely leaning toward coming with you." She gulps; can she do this? His support would be crucial. He has never let her down.
The smile on his face takes her breath away. She knows they have a special work relationship; it was just cemented in her mind, forever.
"Well, I am going to confirm my acceptance of their offer. I have 2 other gals I can take – dismal 2nd and 3rd place. I look forward to hearing your decision."
She chuckles at that.
She talks it over at home.
Ellen accepts the offer, and the family prepares to move.
8888888
TBC
888888888
TBC
They didn't know what they were buying. Not really. Had they been bamboozled? He didn't know. He wasn't there; he hadn't heard the sales pitch.