In a mere 146 pages, Stewart O’Nan has managed to capture the essence of the working person. For all of us who have ever worked in retail or the food industry, there is much in this short novel to relate to. Manny DeLeon is the manager of a Red Lobster restaurant that is slated to close. The book details his last day on the job, several days before Christmas. It is how he deals with his co-workers, unexpected crises,and the calm restraint he uses in dealing with difficult customers that make this a great study of character.