Free Peanuts

“You’re the most stubborn kid on planet Earth.”

The little blonde-haired boy named Johnny glared at his mother. In between them was a steaming, hot bowl of spinach. Johnny was having nothing to do with it.  His mother was determined that he would.

The mother never won.

Stubbornness was a skill that got Johnny sent to timeout, put in detention, sent to the field to run laps and suspended time and time again in school.  But he had a backbone. He stood up for what he believed in.  How many bar fights had he gotten himself into in College?  He looked at his crooked nose in the mirror.

He believed in right over wrong. Honoring your word. That a handshake meant something.  And that you didn’t change the rules just because you could.  They were old-fashioned beliefs, particularly since the Great Recession had taken business and turned it on its head.  The phrase “It’s just business,” made him cringe.

He was an relic of Old America. The America that the Greatest Generation built.  The America that became a Super Power. He’d never make it to the executive suite. But that’s OK. He believed in his word. And hard work.  And when his head hit the pillow at night, he slept well.

He pushed the peanut shells around on the bar.

“What are you doin’ in here so early, John?” the bartender asked as he dried a glass.

“Laid off.  All my years of hard work meant nothing.”

“Bull.” The bartender said quietly. “You’ve raised your children to have morals. To have values.”

“Well, what good did it do me?”

The bartender set down the glass and looked the man in the eye. “Those values mean you aren’t a quitter.  The people who are taking shortcuts to make a quick buck, well — karma will catch up with them.  When times get rough, they’ll have nothing to fall back on.  You? You have a great family. You stand for something. You’ve saved and will get by.  And look at this community. You’ve made a huge difference in it.  Hold your head up high.  You deserve to.”

And somewhere in John’s body, he felt his spine stiffen. He felt the stubbornness he was so famous for kick in.  “Pity party’s over. Time to get busy.”

The bartender looked at him and smiled, “Darn. And I brought the drinks.  Oh, and remember what Churchill once said, “If you’re going through Hell, don’t stop.”

John picked up his paperwork and jacket.  “You know, you’re better than a psychiatrist.”

The bartender laughed, “I know. And I serve free peanuts.”