02.02.06 Your Work Desk Is Not a Restaurant – Never Eat in the Presence of Customers

4. Of ‘The Beans Soup and the Japanese Fantasy’

Tamale hastened towards the bus as it skidded to a halt.  And as he boarded the overloaded vehicle, he could hardly conceal the excitement on his beaming face.  For he had just received the news that he would be travelling to Tokyo in two-days’ time!  Now he had to give his Uncle (Monge) the wonderful news.

As the bus negotiated its way through the traffic, the sixteen-year old Tamale mused on the events that had led to the ‘Japan trip’ blessing.  

Some five years ago, Tamale’s mother, Mama Shinda had retired.  However, Tamale who was the last born, had not yet completed his education.  Therefore, with no earnings to finance the boy’s studies, Mama Shinda had requested that Monge picks Tamale from the village to assist with the boy’s education.  And for Monge, the answer had been a ‘ready yes’.

Uncle Monge occupied a very special place in Tamale’s heart. First and foremost, he was the only surviving uncle that the boy had; but secondly, Monge had introduced Tamale to lawn tennis – a game they both loved with a passion.  

Uncle Monge’s involvement in tennis dated back a long time.  In fact, the uncle was so into the game that he had organised other parents in the city to form a junior tennis club.  Therefore, it was not surprising that Monge had encouraged Tamale to become a club member.  And, the club’s reputation had grown so much that, recently, they had received sponsorship for a tennis tournament to Japan.  

The members had been overjoyed by the invitation.  However, Tamale had narrowly missed the opportunity since only 6 youths were needed; and, he was the 7th when it came to excellence at playing the game.  

However, things had taken a different turn that morning, when Tamale received a call from Dokasi, the secretary of the sponsoring association; informing him that he had been chosen to replace a sick member on the ‘Tokyo team’.  “We therefore need your passport right away”, Dokasi had added with unmistaken urgency.  

An ecstatic Tamale had thanked Dokasi, but confessed that he did not have a passport.  That was when the secretary had said that Tamale brings his birth certificate along with other relevant documents so that they process his travel documents immediately.  

As Tamale’s birth certificate was still in the custodian of Mama Shinda, he needed Uncle Monge’s help regarding how to get the document from the village as soon as possible.

Monge was very delighted that his nephew had been selected after all.  He then called Mama Shinda who promised to send a photocopy of the birth certificate by bus.  By 9 am the following day, the document had arrived; after which Tamale rushed it to Dokasi.  Then he dashed off to the stadium, to join the rest of the team for practice.

But later in the day, he received a telephone call from Dokasi.  “Tamale, could you please bring another copy of the birth certificate?” the secretary asked with a slight twinge of apprehension.  Then Tamale replied “but that was the only copy I had.  What happened to the one I brought this morning?”  This is when Dokasi confessed that beans soup had accidentally spilt all-over the certificate, leaving brown food stains that made the document hardly recognisable.  

“Madam”, Tamale responded with plea, “it is really difficult to get another copy as the original is with my mother in the village!”  A brief but pregnant silence followed, after which Dokasi told Tamale that she will call him later.  Towards the close of the day the secretary called the boy to inform him that they had chosen someone else to go to Japan, since that person had a passport. And, needless to say, this decision broke Tamale’s heart as all his thoughts for Tokyo had disappeared down the drain.

This story reminds me of employees who have the annoying habit of eating food on their desks, and sometimes before external customers.  Such a tendency can result in accidents such as the one that Dokasi experienced.  In addition, it makes one appear that she or he accords more importance to the food than the customer.  Moreover, eating before customers could convey a message that the employee lacks self-control, and hence she or he is undisciplined.  Last but not least, food aromas make one’s office smell like either a kitchen or restaurant; which may conflict with the image that the organisation is aspiring to portray.  

Therefore, next time you are having your meal, you may want to look for a secluded place; and certainly not where customers are!