Mr. Rupert’s café was the heartbeat of the bustling city. Nestled in the main town square, it was the hotspot where people would come together to enjoy a warm cup of coffee, freshly baked pastries, delicious cinnamon rolls, and the welcoming smile of its owner.
What started as a simple food truck business when Mr. Rupert was five years old grew into the talk of the town, thanks to his late father’s hard work and dedication. The business grew with time, thus reaching Mr. Rupert’s hands after his father’s death. He spilled his heart and soul into making this eatery a success, but something changed within him as time passed.
The success of his business gave him a sense of entitlement and superiority, and he forgot about his own humble beginnings. Mr. Rupert no longer saw the people around him as equals. He started looking down upon people below him, especially the poor. His restaurant was strictly NOT OPEN to charity, and he always wanted to stay on top of the competition…
So one day, as Mr. Rupert stood in the center of his eatery, he was worried about the outdated equipment and constricted space. He knew he had to make a change if he wanted to keep up with the competition and attract new customers.
So without further thought, he signed the paperwork to mortgage his property and spent all his savings on buying new equipment and expanding the restaurant.
“That should teach that tramp a lesson and show him his place. How dare he walk into my eatery! Filthy bum.”
“Ah, finally…my modern café is here!” Mr. Rupert sighed, a hearty smile stretching ear to ear when his dream came true.
As the contractors began tearing down the walls and installing new sophisticated equipment, Mr. Rupert was so thrilled and proud. He was so excited about taking his business to the next level and was sure that nothing would get in his way now…or ever.
As days passed, Mr. Rupert’s coffee shop started bustling with more happy customers.
“That’s what success tastes like!” he smirked as he checked on his guests on a busy afternoon.
“Bonjour! Passe une bonne journée!” Mr. Rupert tipped his hat as he greeted a French family that frequented his eatery.
And just as he turned around to check the menu for dinner, a poor man walked in, wearing smelly, tattered clothes and a sunken face.
The guy approached Mr. Rupert at the counter and asked in a weary tone, “Excuse me, sir. Could you please spare some food?”
Mr. Rupert looked the man up and down and scowled.
“Back off. Who let you in? Security! Security!”
“Sir, I’m hungry. Please could you give me something to eat? Some leftovers, perhaps?”
“I ain’t running a charity here. I don’t give alms to beggars. Get outta my café, you bum.”
The man looked down, defeated, before looking into Mr. Rupert’s eyes again, holding his rumbling belly.
“Please, sir. I’m starving. I haven’t eaten in days. I’ll take anything you can spare. Even stale, but please give me something to eat.”
Mr. Rupert rolled his eyes and stepped back, pinching his nose in disgust before gesturing for a server to bring the leftovers.
The poor man’s eyes sparkled with hope when he saw Mr. Rupert collect the previous day’s burgers, sandwiches, donuts, and pastries in a green garbage bag. The hungry man couldn’t resist the smell of the food, and his mouth started watering. He could feel his belly rumbling heavily and couldn’t wait to pounce on the meal.
But just as the man lifted his fragile hands to collect the bag of food, Mr. Rupert turned around and headed to the bin.
“There you go, bum. You can have all the leftovers you want…from the trash. Now GET OUT!” taunted Mr. Rupert, tossing the bag in the trashcan and shutting it as the disappointed man gulped.
The poor man hung his head in shame and walked out of the coffee shop to find food elsewhere, his stomach growling with hunger.
As Mr. Rupert turned around from the door, adjusting his necktie, he felt a sense of pride wash over him.
“That should teach that tramp a lesson and show him his place. How dare he walk into my eatery! Filthy bum. And you…I’ll fire you if another hobo enters my café,” he lashed out at the security.
Later that evening, Mr. Rupert was seated at his desk and had dozed off after reviewing some paperwork when the door suddenly burst open. He was startled when he saw a waitress panting in the doorway.
“Maria?? What in the world are you doin’ in here like that?” Mr. Rupert barked. “Can’t you see I’m busy? And how dare you enter my office without knocking?”
“Mmm…Mmm…Mr. Rupert, the-the-there’s been a….”
“What is it, now? Quit wasting my time…wait. What’s that funny smell? Did the chefs burn something in the kitchen again? I’ll make them pay for it from their salary.
“Mr. Rupert,” the waitress was out of breath, her eyes bulging with fear as she coughed. “There’s been a fire in the dining hall. We need to get out.”
“A fire? My restaurant is on fire??”
“Yes, sir! You need to get out of here right away.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Mr. Rupert’s heart raced as he caught a whiff of charred wood. He jumped up from his desk and bolted towards the safe. “My money….oh, no…my money…my money.”
But before Mr. Rupert could open the safe, two firefighters barged in and pulled him out of the smoky room.
“Sir, we need to go. The whole building is on fire. Please cooperate.”
As they made their way out through the burning building, Mr. Rupert saw flames crawling up at the walls and fumes of thick smoke rolling towards the ceiling.
Mr. Rupert watched helplessly, his eyes fixed on the blazing flames consuming his beloved café. Everything burned down in a wink. All the sophisticated equipment, imported furniture, and money in the safe were reduced to ashes.
“How did this happen?” he marched to his employees. “Oh God…how did this thing happen? Please…somebody tell me…how on earth did my café catch fire?”
Mr. Rupert watched as the firefighters struggled to put out the fire. Hours later, all that was left were the charred ruins of his once-bustling coffee shop.
He sank on a nearby bench, watching his life’s hard work destroyed to smoking embers.
“Mr. Rupert…we’re sorry. It was a short circuit, and nobody noticed…we’re extremely sorry,” one of the employees said.
“Everybody…please leave me alone…just go away…”
Mr. Rupert broke down, his head resting on his hands, and he eventually fell asleep on the bench outside a shop nearby, all alone and broke.
Mr. Rupert woke up the following morning to the warm rays of the sun caressing his cold body. He felt his stomach rumbling and slipped his hand into his coat pocket to see if he had some money to buy food. But it was empty.
Do not let money blind you.
Mr. Rupert sighed a deep breath as he rose and marched toward the bakery nearby, unsure of what to ask. As he approached the counter, he cleared his throat and paused, feeling embarrassed.
“Excuse me, sir. Can you please help me?”
“Mr. Rupert? Is that you? What brings you to our humble bakery? I heard your café caught on fire yesterday. Is everything alright?” said the manager.
“Could you please give me something to eat? I’m hungry. I lost everything last night to that fire accident…and I’m really in a tough spot right now. And…I…I can’t pay you.”
The manager frowned and looked around at the glass shelves.
“Alright, I can give you last night’s leftover burgers and donuts. We were just about to throw them. But don’t expect us to do this every day!”
Those words hit Mr. Rupert like a ton of bricks as he collected the bag of leftovers and marched out of the bakery. He couldn’t believe he would have to see such a day.
Just as he was about to devour another burger, he noticed the homeless man he’d kicked out of his coffee shop the previous day. He grabbed his food bag and bolted in his direction.
“Hey, excuse me…hey, wait up.”
The homeless man was stunned when he saw Mr. Rupert approaching him with a big, fat smile on his face.
“I’m sorry for not helping you yesterday. I don’t know how to say this, but…I am in a tough spot myself today. Would you like to share my breakfast?”
The two men ate in silence, the only sound being the chomping sound of food.
“Thank you for this…I’ll never forget your help,” the poor man said, introducing himself as Freddie.
“Some years back, I owned a grocery store in the city nearby. I was so rich and thought I didn’t need anything else. I never helped poor people and chased them out of my store whenever they approached me for help. But fate dragged me to the streets. I sold my house and everything I had to pay off my debts. My rich friends and relatives turned their backs on me. Things were never the same after that.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Freddie,” Mr. Rupert said, placing his hand on Freddie’s shoulder. “I shouldn’t have turned you away like that yesterday. I’m sorry for that.”
The two men decided to stick together, and when Mr. Rupert watched his life collapse over the next few days, leaving him without a home, Freddie took him to the homeless shelter.
“I know life here can be tough in the beginning. It was for me when I first came here…but I learned to cope. I hope you’ll settle in here soon.”
Mr. Rupert sighed heavily at the impoverished living conditions in the shelter. He had to share his room and live with the poor people he once despised. He realized he’d have to sleep on a bunk bed and wait in the queue to use the toilet. He hated his life, but he was left with no choice.
The next morning, Freddie was surprised when Mr. Rupert burst into the shelter with tears stagnant in his eyes.
“Freddie, you won’t believe what just happened!”
“Mr. Rupert…what’s going on? Where have you been since morning? I was looking for you everywhere.”
“I’ve been out trying to make things happen, Freddie. And you know what? I talked to the owner of a deluxe restaurant down the street…and he’s agreed to give us both a job!”
“A job? What—are you serious?”
“Dead serious, pal. I told him about our experience, and he agreed to give us a chance. We start today, so hurry up and get ready.”
The men got dressed in their work clothes, and as they made their way out of the shelter, Freddie grew curious. “I’ve been looking for a job but never succeeded. How did you do this in just one day, man?”
Mr. Rupert chuckled. “I just put my mind to it, pal. I had to negotiate hard, and in the end, I got us both a fair deal. Now that should help us get back everything we’ve lost. But it’s going to take a lot of time and a hell lot of hard work. Are you with me in this?”
As time passed, Mr. Rupert and Freddie gave their best in their new roles as a janitor and a dishwasher in the restaurant. Their hard work paid off well several months later when they were promoted to chef and manager of the same outlet. Mr. Rupert paid off his debts, and soon, he moved from the homeless shelter to a rented apartment with his friend, Freddie.
