Spilled The Beans At Work

I work at a bar where everything has its place and every task is done to the letter. I’m in my early thirties now but have always been the type who enjoys order and routine, which is why this job suits me so well. Today, though, something small went wrong. It was nothing big, just forgetting to take out the trash before closing up as per our protocol. But it’s one of those things that build up in your head; you can’t help but think about what you did and how it deviates from everything else you do right. When my boss came around for his nightly inspection, I thought he might have missed it because he didn’t say anything about the trash. But then later on as we were winding down at the bar, there was a moment where our eyes met and I saw disappointment in his gaze before he quickly looked away. It wasn’t exactly punishment, but it felt like being scolded by an authority figure without them even saying a word. The truth is that my role-playing isn’t just confined to certain times or places; it’s part of who I am at work as well, the little one taking orders and doing her best to please. So when I messed up, I felt like the naughty child in trouble more than anything else. Even now, thinking about how I let him down gives me a small flutter of guilt mixed with the odd thrill of being corrected.