Denouement

I was mistaken. Within a week I get a phone call from chef Joseph, but instead of the emergency shift I expected, he wanted me to come in and hand over my locker keys and name badge. I came in the following week intent on meeting up with Human Resources to let them know what was happening, I thought that they might be interested in how things are really run in the kitchen. It turns out they were just content to go with the official story as told by the kitchen management. It was very naive of me, of course that was what HR would do. They're not there for the benefit of the employees, they exist to protect the interests of the company. Instead of asking me what really happened, they just wanted to know if I had any questions about my termination. The last thing they wanted was to complicate matters in the kitchen if I had any grievances. By this time, I knew the battle was lost, I just thanked them for all the stuff I had learned and walked out of there.

I bumped into a few of the staff who asked me where I had been, I told them I was let go. they offered me words of comfort saying that I would be better off to be out of there anyway. And I did feel that way. This place was slowly killing me, they needed to break me so they can mold me into the automaton that showed up for work and did the job for as long as they want because I needed the job. The truth was, I didn't need the job like a lot of them did. I look at them that I leave behind and I can't help but think of them like victims in an abusive relationship. Willing to stay because at the end of the day, they just take their pay and get on with their lives as best they can. The happiest I have ever seen these people is at the end of their shift.

Later that evening I was back at the hotel bar to meet up with a friend visiting from the USA. The bar staff were kind enough to give us the staff discount on our drinks. It was quite amusing to be there as a customer, knowing what goes on behind the slick facade. I even spoke to chef Rick as he was busy topping up the buffet. He pretended to be busy, I realised that I pitied him as I was moving on with my life.


Speaking of which, that week I landed a gig working as an extra in the TV show Rescue Special Ops, a catering gig with Buffets Galore, and a new Ka Huna massage client. I really trust that the universe is reassuring me that things are working out for the best.

Thus ends my brief but intense relationship with Sheraton on the Park.