Pockets’ First Job: A Lesson in Safety

But what Pockets didn’t know was that the kitchen had security cameras. And, unfortunately for him, the entire incident had been caught on tape.

Immediately, Mr. Richard called Pockets to the office. Pockets felt his stomach twist in knots as he walked down the hall. He couldn’t stop thinking about how he had tried to hide the broken plate.

Mr. Richard sat behind his desk, looking serious but not angry. He pressed a button, and the security footage played. Pockets watched as the plate shattered again on the screen, this time in slow motion.

“Do you know why I called you in here?” Mr. Richard asked calmly.

Pockets nodded, his face flushed with guilt. “Because… because I broke the plate. I’m sorry, Mr. Richard. I was trying to hide it, and I know that was wrong. Please don’t fire me. It was an accident.”

Mr. Richard stood up and put a hand on Pockets’ shoulder. “Pockets, accidents happen. Plates can be replaced. But you, young man, cannot. I’m more worried about you getting hurt. Did the broken plate cut you? Did you slip on the water?”

Pockets looked up, surprised. “No, sir. I’m okay.”

“Good,” Mr. Richard said, nodding. “That’s what matters. You see, Pockets, your safety is the most important thing here. When you’re at work, we want you to be careful and take your time. If there’s water on the floor, it’s important to clean it up right away, so no one slips and gets hurt. You can always come to me if there’s a problem.”

Pockets felt the weight of his mistake lift off his shoulders. He hadn’t thought about that-how much people cared about him, not just the plates and dishes. “I didn’t think of that,” Pockets said quietly. “I was just scared about the broken plate.”

Mr. Richard smiled warmly. “It’s okay to make mistakes, Pockets. We all do. What matters is that you learn from them. From now on, if there’s water on the floor, let’s clean it up. And if you ever break something, just let me know. We’ll figure it out together.”

Pockets nodded, feeling a new sense of responsibility. “I will, Mr. Richard. I promise.”

As Pockets left the office, he felt lighter. He had learned an important lesson that day: it wasn’t about hiding mistakes but about staying safe and doing the right thing.