This is it

On another calm day at the café, Kieran found himself engaged in conversation over the phone, coordinating with a volunteer eager to assist with marketing efforts. Despite a steady flow of patrons, Kieran was eager to enhance the café's community feel through themed events and workshops, aiming to encourage patrons to contribute their own talents and passions to the mix. It was all part of his vision to cultivate an environment where everyone felt a deep sense of belonging.

As he pocketed his phone, concluding the call, the entrance swung open, revealing a familiar face that brought an immediate smile to Kieran's lips. “Míng!” he called out warmly, his surprise at the visit evident but welcome.

“What a pleasant surprise! What brings you in today?” Kieran approached, reaching out to Míngzé’s arm, indicating his intent to guide him to a comfortable spot where they could catch up.

Kieran's curiosity was piqued as Míngzé mirrored the question back to him, but before he could delve deeper, Míngzé revealed his purpose: a job hunt. Yet, it seemed Míngzé wasn't fully confident in his prospects of finding employment here. Kieran, though always inclined to lend a hand, found himself at a loss for how Míngzé might fit into the current environment.

“Please, have a seat,” he offered, accompanied by a reassuring smile. “What would you like? Coffee, tea?” Kieran inquired with ease, signalling an employee to attend to them. Though he hesitated, contemplating whether to voice additional thoughts, he ultimately chose to hold back.

“What type of work are you seeking?” Kieran probed gently, hoping to uncover a role that might suit Míngzé, before he would have to let him down as the owner of the establishment.

Míngzé's vagueness wasn't doing him any favours, and Kieran felt a growing concern, though he was relieved that Míngzé couldn't see his furrowed brow or the worried downturn of his lips as they spoke. He released a soft sigh upon hearing Míngzé's less-than-compelling description of his skills, realising that if Míngzé approached job applications with this level of generality, it was unlikely he'd secure employment.

Despite this, Kieran was determined to assist—though even he found it challenging to derive something solid from Míngzé's words.

“Other small tasks? Certainly, you have a better sales pitch when you go and talk to the owner,” Kieran encouraged gently, trying to coax more detail out of Míngzé. “What else can you do? What did you study again?” he continued, probing for any information that might make Míngzé a useful addition to his team.

While Míngzé was aware that he needed to market himself effectively, his efforts were somewhat lacklustre. He mentioned his ability to bake brownies, and when Kieran inquired about his educational background, Míngzé revealed that he had studied hospitality management but had taken a break from school this semester. This caught Kieran's attention.

As Míngzé explained that he had left his previous job because it was unsatisfactory and had impulsively decided to quit, Kieran bit his lip, pondering the situation before letting out a soft sigh. “Why don’t you start with the management? Shouldn’t you be able to do a lot for a place like this?” he suggested. Kieran was puzzled by Míngzé’s lack of preparation for the conversation. Given his educational background, Míngzé should have been able to outline relevant skills and experiences, such as marketing, management, housekeeping, food and beverage service, event management, recruitment, and managing budgets—all of which were crucial aspects Kieran was looking for.

When Kieran suggested that Míngzé apply what he had learned in his studies to help at the establishment, Míngzé was hesitant, believing that Kieran probably already had enough staff handling those responsibilities. Indeed, Kieran had initially had his father's assistance with the business side of things and felt confident in his ability to manage on his own for the time being. However, he recognized that additional support could still be beneficial, especially from someone who could specifically tackle tasks well-suited to their skills.

As they talked, their drinks arrived, and Kieran took a moment to enjoy his hot chocolate. Míngzé expressed a desire to work with Pokémon, which gave Kieran pause as he contemplated how to integrate this interest with the needs of the business. After a thoughtful sip and a soft sigh, Kieran saw an opportunity to clarify the situation and perhaps guide Míngzé toward a role that could be mutually beneficial.

“So,” Kieran began, setting his cup down. “While we do need someone to take care of the Pokémon, that task would exclusively be during the quieter hours. Our busy hours are spread throughout the day, as we offer all meals, as well as coffee and cocktails and the like,” he explained, outlining the structure of the business operations and the timing of various tasks.

“But I had a plan and a lot of money, without much knowledge about running a business. So if you’d like to spend most of your time helping me manage this, I would gladly hire you for that,” he offered, suggesting a role that would leverage Míngzé’s studies in hospitality management and address both their needs.

It took Míngzé a moment to connect the dots, but once he did, he labelled his own effort as the worst sales pitch in history. Kieran couldn't help but agree, though his response was tempered with humour. “It wasn’t very good,” he acknowledged, his chuckle softening the critique. In this case, a polished sales pitch wasn't crucial— Kieran knew Míngzé personally and understood what he brought to the table.

“I got that,” Kieran responded when Míngzé expressed his surprise at the turn of events.

“I… had been thinking about this for a while, but after our accident, I decided life’s too short not to follow your dreams. This place was being sold with urgency,” he shared the backstory of his sudden venture into business ownership. “I bought it, begged my father to help me figure everything out, and it took only a few weeks from contract to opening.”

“What I need is someone to handle the business side of things with me. An assistant manager, I guess,” he outlined the position, suggesting a significant level of trust and responsibility. “If you’re good at what you do, I do not care if you finished your degree,” he added, placing practical skills and competence over formal qualifications. “We can combine it with taking care of the Pokémon so you get a few more hours in.”

When Míngzé commented that the place seemed to be in capable hands, noting the great atmosphere, Kieran responded with a gentle smile. “Thank you.” Hearing such things affirmed that his place felt safe and warm, aligning perfectly with his vision and intentions for the space. This acknowledgment from others was more than just a compliment; it was a validation of his efforts and goals.

Upon discussing employment, Míngzé mentioned his past internships and offered to provide references, indicating that they had been satisfied with his work. Kieran, however, dismissed the need for such formalities with a shake of his head. “I don’t need that. I trust you,” he assured Míngzé with a calm and firm tone.

Kieran then outlined the next steps: “And exactly. So let’s start with two months of trial. Let’s find out what works, what position and times work best for you. After two months, we turn it into a full contract if we’re happy with each other,” he proposed, setting clear expectations and a path forward.

“I’ll set up a temporary contract and have it sent to you overnight.” This approach allowed both flexibility and structure, providing an opportunity for both Kieran and Míngzé to assess the fit before making a long-term commitment. He knew he’d need some time to draft the contract carefully.

Kieran's expression softened into a gentle smile as he observed Míngzé's relief. It was clear that the opportunity they were discussing brought some relief and this visibly pleased Kieran. When Míngzé expressed his gratitude, indicating how much this opportunity was helping him, Kieran responded with a light chuckle, appreciating the irony in the statement.

“You’ll be the one helping me. I’ve never been too good with numbers,” Kieran joked, his tone light but sincere. He genuinely appreciated having someone who could handle the more intricate financial aspects of the business. Kieran knew his strengths lay in building a community and envisioning the broader strokes of his enterprise, yet he recognized that the finer details, particularly the financial ones, were not his forte.

Seeking to understand more about Míngzé's current situation beyond the job, Kieran then shifted the conversation slightly. “So how’s everything besides this?” he inquired, showing genuine interest in Míngzé's overall well-being.

When Míngzé mentioned his inability to write numbers due to his vision, Kieran was quick to respond. “That’s what we have computers for,” he pointed out with a smile. He wasn’t aware of the various technologies designed to assist, but he was more than willing to accommodate Míngzé’s needs with specialised equipment if necessary.

“Are you struggling with the bills?” Kieran inquired, his voice laden with concern. He then added, “Will you be alright now?” His questions reflected a genuine worry for Míngzé’s welfare. Although Kieran himself hadn't experienced financial hardships, he understood the stress they could impose and was prepared to offer support in any way he could.