Kairo stood behind the Glember Inn and Tavern's counter, worry lines replacing his usual smile.
“Kairo, can I get another drink!”
“Coming,” Kairo said. “In a minute.” He rushed to pour a glass of wine and sloshed some out onto the floor.”
“You said that five minutes ago.”
The sudden departure of Wanjiru, his reliable bartender, for better prospects left a gap hard to fill. The tavern's friendly vibe and top-notch service, much credited to Wanjiru, were now at stake.
Kairo passed by a table to deliver the wine. “Do you know anyone who needs a job?”
But each inquiry met the same end: sympathetic shrugs and apologies. "Sorry, Kairo, I don't know anyone," they said, or "Wish I could help, but no luck." Even his well-connected local sources came up empty.
With each 'no,' Kairo's spirits fell. The tavern, usually alive with laughter and music, felt adrift without Wanjiru. The thought of the bar unmanned or run by someone who didn't grasp its essence troubled him. He hurried back to the bar, eyeing his patrons, pondering how to maintain the tavern's heart without his key bartender.
The tavern's lively atmosphere dulled as Kairo stretched himself thin, trying to manage the bar and attend to customers.
A man dressed like a dockworker stood near the bar, a duffel slung over his shoulder. “I need to check in to a room.”
“Just a moment, please.”
The tavern's lively chatter and laughter continued, yet there was a noticeable decline in the usual cheer. Regulars exchanged concerned glances, their patience reflecting their affection for Kairo and the tavern.
Caught in the hectic flow, Kairo, in a burst of inspiration, decided to act. Between tasks, he began drafting fliers for distribution across Zambara, seeking a new bartender. He snatched moments for this work amidst serving drinks, handling payments, and apologizing for delays. His hands, usually skilled at bartending tasks, now crafted the fliers, each a plea for assistance and a spark of hope.
The finished fliers captured the tavern's essence: warm, inviting, vibrant. Kairo's goal was to find someone who could do more than just pour drinks; they needed to embody and enhance the tavern's spirit. Perhaps this would mark a turnaround, reviving the lively atmosphere the Glember Inn and Tavern was celebrated for.
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The once harmonious sounds of glassware now echoed with mistakes. The enduring patience of his patrons began to show signs of strain, with discontent murmurs replacing the usual happy buzz.
Kairo noticed every sign of frustration among his customers, including a Dardoman in the corner, his massive shoulders and thick, leather-like skin rising above the human crowd, even though the Dardoman sat on a flexing wooden bench.
Kairo swallowed and hoped the Dardoman didn’t get angry at the slow service.
The weight of the tavern's plight pressed on Kairo. His pride and livelihood were at stake. With a sense of renewed urgency, he concentrated on finishing the fliers, each one symbolizing both his desperation and hope for a solution.
Night deepened. Hours later, he stood alone in the now quiet space. His shoulders sagged. His feet ached.
#
Kairo lingered in his usually bustling tavern, now cloaked in silence. The empty space bore down on him. He was exhausted, the day's toil wearing him down. He understood that continuing alone like this was unsustainable.
He wandered past the empty tables, his hand brushing over the counter's wood grain. Memories of better times - the clinking glasses, happy customers, and the tavern's efficient operation - contrasted sharply with today's chaos: spilled drinks, confused orders, and growing customer dissatisfaction. Each error highlighted the crucial role his former bartender played in the tavern's rhythm.
Kairo slumped into a chair, weary but thinking practically. Operating solo was harming the tavern he loved. The establishment's hard-earned reputation was in jeopardy. He weighed his options, his decision-making clouded by fatigue but driven by necessity.
In a moment of lucidity, Kairo decided. The hard but logical choice was to temporarily close the tavern.
This would allow him time to find the right replacement. A temporary closure was painful to consider, but essential for the tavern's long-term health and the community it served.
Rising, Kairo resolved to post a notice the next day. It would explain the closure, assuring patrons of a hopeful reopening later in the day. With his decision made, a bit of the burden lifted from Kairo's shoulders.
He shuttered the kynik crystal-dust infused rods that lit the space, and then picked up the few completed fliers from the bar. They rustled in his hands.
Before securing the tavern's door, Kairo hesitated, the cool Zambara night caressing his face. He mulled over his regulars' reactions to the closure news, expecting disappointment but hoping for their understanding and support in preserving the tavern's spirit.
He glanced up, the Fungo-Litho architecture of the Inn standing stark against the night sky. Its bulbous mushroom shapes and more linear stone walls blended natural and crafted elements, reflecting the character and history of the place he strove to protect.
As mirti bugs chirped in the night, their sounds a soothing backdrop, a flicker of hope ignited within Kairo. The time spent distributing fliers might soon attract the right person to revive the tavern's lively ambiance. He pictured the fliers drawing the attention of someone capable and passionate, someone who'd grasp and enrich the tavern's essence.
In his quarters on the top floor of the inn, Kairo allowed a moment of relief. Tonight, he'd rest, readying himself for the tasks ahead. In his room's quiet, he found peace, his mind already picturing the lively, warm scene he was committed to resurrecting. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes. The mirti's chirps served a gentle reminder of the life he hoped to restore at the Glember Inn and Tavern.