Home » The Archives » Chapter 13 » Cold Front
| Re: Cold Front [message #818 is a reply to message #816] |
Wed, 25 July 2012 17:05   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
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Field Commander
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Wednesday, November 7th, 12 pm Tracy Island(1 pm, previous day, Hawaii)
Saltwater Café was a small, family-owned diner not far from Vince's dive shop. It was to here that Adam and Vince headed after turning the shop over to Aaron.
"Hey Vince!" Sally, one of the regular waitresses said, as they walked into the diner. "How many?"
"Three Sally," Vince replied. "Jim will be joining us shortly."
"Okay. Right this way," Sally told them, leading them to a back corner booth away from the rest of the customers. She knew that when Vince showed up with his employees, it was usually a business lunch and she tried to give them some privacy if the diner wasn't crowded.
Adam and Vince made small talk while waiting. Sally had dropped off their normal drinks. It wasn't long before Jim had joined them.
"So what's up, Boss?" Jim asked after all three of them had given Sally their orders.
"I want to discuss something with you guys, as it's going to affect you guys, too," Vince said, looking at Jim first and then Adam. "I've been thinking lately that it might be time for a career change for me."
"Career change, as in not as involved with the shop?" Jim asked. His boss tended to be an hands on shop owner, unlike some of the other people he had worked with over the years. It wasn't too often that Vince didn't spend at least a little time at the shop whenever it was open.
Vince shook his head. "Change as in finding something entirely else to do and selling the shop."
The conversation at the table hit a lull. Jim and Adam looked from their boss, to each other, and then at their boss again.
"Sell the shop, why?" Adam asked, the surprise evident in his voice. "Business is going better than when you hired me."
Jim, who had been with Vince since he opened the shop, wasn't as surprised. He had noticed that his boss didn't have the same enthusiasm at work as he did when they started the shop. Still, he hadn't expected to hear the news this fast.
"It doesn't has to do with how business is going and it doesn't have to do with you guys. It's me. I just haven't been happy at work. Things have gotten too routine for me. Even getting out on the sky tours and dive trips doesn't seem to break up the monotony."
"Maybe you just need to take a vacation," Adam suggested. "Other than taking a day here and there to travel for one of your son's swim meets or surfing competitions, I don't think you've taken a vacation since I started."
"I think it would only postpone things. Sure, a vacation might recharge me for awhile but it would be a fix to the symptoms not the problem."
The talk ceased as Sally came back with their orders. The waitress put their plates in front of each of them. After asking them if they needed anything else, she headed off to another table.
"Then let's change things up some," Jim said, picking up the conversation again now that they were alone. "We only do air tours of Oahu right now. We could expand that to include tours of the neighboring islands. Instead of just doing diving, we can also add snorkeling to it. Get some of the younger kids involved in things. You've got kids, Vince. You know how much they can spice things up."
Vince smiled, knowing the Jim was thinking of his own two little boys. Jake and Jeremiah were twins and at four years old, quite a handful. Adding Lea into the mix always kept the parents running.
"Or we could even add something entirely new," Adam said, picking up on Jim's train of thought. "We're heading into the months where the humpback whales will be down this way. I bet we could get some business with whale-watching tours. Or, what about offering kayaking trips? I've got experience kayaking and could actually help out with those." As he only had basic scuba diving certification and no pilot's license, his duties were limited to manning the store and helping with equipment.
"I appreciate both of your ideas," Vince told his employees. "I still think it would only delay the inevitable. I think a complete change of direction is what I need right now. I don't plan on putting the shop up for sale until I find something. Even then my hope is to find someone interested in keeping it running as a dive shop."
"But you can't guarantee that," Jim commented.
"Right, which is why I wanted to let you guys know what is going on. I want to make sure that there is plenty of time to decide what you want to do."
"How soon do you think you'll put the shop on the market?" Jim asked.
"I can't be sure," Vince told him. "I plan on starting the job search as soon as possible, but I don't know how long it will take me to find something. I'll definitely let you know when I do, though. You guys are free to look for other opportunities whenever you want. I realize the uncertainty might not be something you want to deal with. If you need time off for a interview or a recommendation, I'll do what I can."
"I think I might start looking myself," Adam admitted. "If I don't have a definite source of income I may not be able to pay tuition."
"I understand," Vince said, not surprised to hear Adam say that.
Vince had hired Adam about a year ago after his last full-time employee had quit. He was working his way through college and Vince knew his budget was tight.
"I'm not sure what I'm going to do," Jim commented. "Guess for now, I'll see how things go."
"I'll make sure I keep you both updated on developments. While I want to do what is best for me and my family, I also want to make this transition as easy as possible. You're both good, hard workers and I appreciate everything you do."
The three continued to discuss the situation and other shop related business as they finished their lunch. When they were done, Vince paid the bill, leaving Sally a generous tip, and then they headed out of the diner.
"Four o'clock for the lesson, right, Boss?" Adam asked as they stepped out of the sidewalk. He had been working on getting his instructor certification so that he could help out with the dive trips.
"That's right. I'll see you then, Adam," Vince replied.
As Adam walked to where he had parked his moped, Vince and Jim headed for their own vehicles, both driving to Blue Waters Dive Shop.
  
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