“HEY, NEW GIRL,” Mr. Reynolds said. “You’ve just managed to get fired on your first day.”
“What? But why? Did I make a mistake?” Lily asked, her heart sinking.
“Yeah, you came to work looking like a clown.” Mr. Reynolds gestured at Lily’s bright blue hair. “So get back into your clown car and get out of here!”
Lily stood there, mortified. “But there’s nothing in the dress code about hair color… I checked, Mr. Reynolds.”
Mr. Reynolds sneered. “I should’ve known better than to hire some snotty teen. You have no understanding of how to present a professional image. There’s no place for someone like you in my coffee shop. Now GET OUT!”
“Hey! You can’t speak to her like that!”
Anger and embarrassment coursed through Lily’s veins as she recognized the voice. She spun and saw the person she hated most in the world stepping out of his place near the front of the queue: her dad, Jason.
Jason’s eyes were blazing with fury as he stormed over to Mr. Reynolds. “Who do you think you are, talking to my daughter like that?” he demanded.
Mr. Reynolds blinked, taken aback by the sudden confrontation. “I… I didn’t realize she was your daughter,” he stammered.
“That doesn’t matter,” Jason shot back. “You have no right to treat any employee that way. And just because she has blue hair doesn’t mean she can’t do her job.”
Mr. Reynolds looked flustered. “It’s just not professional,” he mumbled.
Jason took a deep breath, trying to control his anger. “Professionalism isn’t about hair color. It’s about attitude and performance. And right now, you’re the one who’s being unprofessional.”
The customers in the cafe were now watching the scene unfold with rapt attention. Lily felt a mix of embarrassment and gratitude as she watched her dad stand up for her.
“I came here to support my daughter on her first day at her new job,” Jason continued. “But instead, I find her being publicly humiliated by her boss. This is unacceptable.”
Mr. Reynolds’ face turned red with shame. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” he started, but Jason cut him off.
“No, you didn’t mean to get caught,” Jason said sternly. “You owe my daughter an apology.”
Mr. Reynolds turned to Lily, his expression contrite. “Lily, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken to you that way. It was unprofessional and wrong.”
Lily looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. “Thank you,” she whispered, barely able to speak.
Jason put his arm around Lily’s shoulders. “Let’s go, sweetheart. You don’t need to work for someone who doesn’t respect you.”
As they walked out of the cafe, the other customers started clapping. Lily’s heart swelled with pride and love for her dad.
Outside, Jason turned to her. “Are you okay?” he asked gently.
Lily nodded, wiping away her tears. “Yeah. Thanks, Dad. I didn’t think you’d be here.”
“I wanted to surprise you,” he said with a smile. “But I didn’t expect it to turn out like this.”
Lily hugged her dad tightly. “I’m glad you were here,” she said. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
Jason kissed the top of her head. “You don’t have to put up with anyone treating you badly, Lily. Remember that.”
The incident at the cafe became a turning point for Lily. She found a new job at a place that valued her for her skills and not her appearance. And she never forgot the lesson her dad taught her that day: to always stand up for herself and to never let anyone make her feel less than she was worth.
In the end, Lily realized that her dad, despite their differences, was her biggest supporter and protector. And she was grateful for his love and the strength it gave her to face the world.