• Task: Each week you will read a case study based on a small business and the four employees who work there. This narrative will help you see interpersonal relationships in action. 
• Purpose: Apply these stories in an activity that helps you see interpersonal theory in practice.   

Instructions

1. Read the story below. Use the theories you studied in the textbook and apply them in the activity completed later this week using the characters and story from the Bike Palace.
2. Complete the W04 Activity: I Quit in Canvas.

Mr. Vincent seemed more nervous than Joseph had ever seen him. Usually, his boss spent the day greeting customers and chatting with the Bike Palace employees, but today he paced in his office with the door open, watching the entrance and glancing at his watch. 

 “I need all the bikes to be clean today,” Mr. Vincent told the employees. “By noon.”  

 “We can do that,” Marco said. 

 “Good. I think I’ll take my lunchbreak early.” He grabbed the blue lunch sack from the closet and headed outside.     

 Joseph fumed, banging the wrench against the frame of the bike he’d been trying to repair. Mr. Vincent had taken Joseph’s lunch sack. It was the third time this week that someone had stolen his lunch. He felt helpless because it was his boss stealing his lunch. He felt like he couldn’t do anything about it. He knew he would be hungry again this afternoon.  

“Joseph! Pay attention!” Marco said. “That chain isn’t going to reattach itself.”  

 Joseph finished reattaching the chain on the sleek red bike. “This look good?” 

 “Adequate,” Marco said. 

 Joseph shook his head at Marco. All that work, and it was just “adequate.” No one around here respected him. I should quit, Joseph thought. Marco yelled at him every time he made a mistake. The paycheck wasn’t worth the frustration.  

 Joseph stared at the red bike in front of him. “What should I do now?”  

 “Give it a little grease,” Marco reminded him impatiently, “then put it with the other bikes.”  

“Right.” Joseph reached for the can of grease but accidentally sprayed Marco instead of the bike.  

“Idiot!” Marco shouted, wiping grease from his face. “You weren’t paying attention. Again!”  

“Sorry, sir. I’ll clean that up.” 

“Find someone else to teach you.” Marco pushed him away and headed to the backroom to wash. “I quit!” 

Joseph wiped his hands on a rag. He went to his favorite spot in the store, by Maria’s cash register. “How’s your son’s football team?” he asked.   

“They won last night,” Maria said proudly. “I was right on time, thanks to you covering for me.”  

“Not everyone is glad I’m here,” Joseph said. “Marco is always annoyed with me.” 

“Marco? He’s a sweetheart. Practically an uncle to me. I’ve known him for ten years, and he always comes to my home for the holidays.” 

Joseph couldn’t imagine Marco celebrating anything. 

“Don’t worry. I think everyone is on edge today because Mr. Vincent’s brother is coming to check the place out,” Maria said. “He wants his brother to be impressed.”  

“What could go wrong?” Joseph asked.  

Just then, the lights flickered overhead, then went out. Marco appeared from the back. “What’s going on?”  

Joseph tried to turn the lights back on. “I think the electricity is out.” 

“The electricity? How could …?” Maria’s face drained of color. “Oh no. I think I forgot to pay the bill.” 

“And it goes out the day Mr. Vincent’s brother comes?” Joseph asked. “Bad timing.” 

Maria slumped into her chair. “I should quit. Maybe then Mr. Vincent won’t have to fire me.”  

Joseph expected Marco to yell at Maria, the way he always yelled at Joseph for any mistake he made. Instead, he put his hand on her shoulder. “Call the company and explain. See how quickly we can get the power back on.” 

Maria nodded, still mumbling about quitting, but she got on the phone. A few minutes later, she hung up, relieved. “They said if I can get the check there in ten minutes, then they can have the power back on by the time Mr. Vincent gets back from lunch.” 

“Give me the check, Mar. I’ll take it over,” Marco said, grabbing his coat.   

But Joseph took the check from Maria instead. “I’ll go. I’m faster,” Joseph said. Both Marco and Joseph rode the bus to work, and the office was a thirty-minute walk.  

Marco sized Joseph up. He knew Joseph was younger and faster. “Take a bike,” he said.

Marco grabbed the red bike Joseph had repaired himself. “I trust this one.”  

Joseph smiled. It seemed Marco may trust him a little too.