She left the marriage without her children, with nothing, only her scattered wits. Becky’s daughters Anna, now thirteen and Dora eleven demanded and got to live with their mother two years ago. It took a serious and determined threat to get their mean father to comply. He had remarried and insisted the girls did his wife’s biddings, which was no big deal Their father insisted they addressed her as mom. The girls hated her and could not bring themselves to call her mom. She was, they insisted not their mother and could never be therefore they gave her hell. The girls insisted they wanted to go and live with their mother. Tadde had refused until they threatened that come one night, they were going to set the house ablaze and kill everyone in it. Tadde was smart enough to know that they meant it and he was not going to be roasted alive by brats he did not love anyway. The girls were only with him because he wanted to punish Becky.

He let them go.

Becky was extremely happy to have her children back after seven years of loneliness and heavy heart. She missed them every day for all those years. That was three years ago and thank God the nightmare was over.

Becky, the chef, the Food and Beverage Manager and the Banquet manager, spent close to an hour planning and costing for the three days conference program they were going to host effective form the following day. They also concluded on other orders for that day and the next, which was going to be an outdoor working lunch for forty people. It looked like it was going to be a very busy and tiring week ahead. They needed more casual staff and food provision for likely impromptu additions that were actually very common as most organizers were not sure of actual turnouts, which in most cases exceeded specification.

Becky liked to be thorough and believed so much in teamwork. To her, to do well in the hospitality business, you have to involve all the right people, the fits, as she liked to refer to them. This makes the job not only easier but makes everyone happy to see his or her contributions and suggestions actually working. Becky gave Kudos where due and was just as tough when you were careless.

Just as they are rounding up, her secretary comes in to announce that some people are asking to talk to the operations Manager concerning an important program for the week.

‘ Give me five minutes and bring them in”

“ Yes madam” he replies and retreats back to the outer office.