Next Shift After Work Party Extremely Uncomfortable

DETROIT, MI—The drunken activities at Stacy Vaughn's party Friday night led to an uncomfortable work environment the following day. While a few employees of the Andiamo restaurant in Detroit viewed each other in a different, more positive light, the vast majority avoided any voluntary contact.

"The last time I had a big party with everyone from work," said Vaughn, "this same thing happened. You know the scene: After a few too many drinks, so-and-so gets together with so-and-so — and often it’s two people that wouldn’t be caught sober together — and the next day at work it’s like...well, everyone walks around avoiding eye contact, murmuring 'hello' or pretending not to see each other.

"Karen Cassidy didn’t even come in for her shift. But then again, I don’t think I would show my face either if I spent almost the whole party in my brother’s minivan parked in our garage, letting all the dishwashers tag team me....

"Call me old-fashioned."

Nancy Tate, a dinner waitress who is relatively new to the restaurant, spent virtually her entire shift avoiding fellow server, Brian Webster. "I don’t know what the fuck I was thinking," said Tate, as she glanced around quickly. "That guy irritates the shit out of me — the way he is always correcting everyone and telling them what they are doing wrong at their tables.

"I was already pretty wasted, and then Paula says let’s do a shot...I must have had three or four at least, and the next thing I know, bam, Brian’s rolling over on me. I’m not sure I knew who he was. Is he coming over here?"

In addition to alcohol-related encounters, some of the tension in the air was due to offensive remarks and hurt feelings. One person in particular, nightshift supervisor Stephen Turcco, was especially derisive, and blamed for making waitress Susanne Bishop cry and threaten to leave the party early.

"After he starts drinking, he can get so mean," said Bishop, whimpering. "He kept telling me how dumb I was, and one time, when someone passed a glass of something to me and I asked what it was, Steve said it was Jim Beam. I asked what Jim Beam was, and he said, 'You know in the middle of the night when your dad sneaks in your bedroom? That smell on his breath? That’s Jim Beam.'"

In addition, many of the employees who stayed until the early hours of the morning ended up in the middle of a mixed variation of several popular party games. Vaughn explains: "When we go out after work and eventually leave the bar, we usually end up at a co-worker’s house where there is more to drink, something to smoke, and often cocaine, or various other drugs, just a phone call away. We play games...you know, card games, drinking games, and as the night moves on the games get bolder...Truth or Dare, Twister, games we make up off the top of our heads.

"Last night we ended up playing this one game where the lights were turned off in this small room — it was pitch black — and on top of that we were all blind-folded to further protect our identities," Vaughn said, giggling. "There were maybe twelve of us, roughly an even number of men and women...and oh yeah...we were all naked. Almost forgot that. The music was so loud you couldn’t hear anything else, and you didn’t know who or where anyone was. You had to move around by...well, by touching and feeling.

"After a zillion drinks, some pot, and who remembers what else...well, let’s just say that inhibitions were completely gone, and our credo was Love the One Your With."

Sharon Priest elaborated. "Remember, we’ve already established relationships of sorts anyway...you know, with the sexual innuendos and raunchy humor that pervade the restaurant environment, and the inadvertent rubbing & bumping, not to mention blatant ass-grabbing, that are all part of the job description. So, I guess it’s not surprising that if you add alcohol and drugs to the end of a tense, sex-charged day...well, it’s a great release.

"Except someone kept sticking their finger up my ass. How can anyone like that? And that’s not something you just assume someone else will like, you know?"

Though Vaughn and Priest agree that employees will keep a safe distance from one another for "roughly a week" (or until the next party tomorrow night), they did witness the conception of at least two new relationships.

"Did you see Jason? Amy was all over him," said Vaughn, "and I was bummed that Sean and Andrea broke up, but she did the right thing. I mean, catching him in my brother’s room with Alex and all...but by the end of the night, she got with Tim, and I always thought they would make a cute couple."

Priest said, "Sean seems like the kind of guy that would stick his finger in your butt...."