Cor-rupt was an Amsterdam café and that meant Amsterdam humour. Everyone took part in all sorts of ways. Sometimes very implicit but sometimes a bit rude. (That ‘always’ also applied to grumbling, if there wasn’t a complaint, we’d get worried).
Of course, there were easy and less easy ‘victims’ although it must be said that everyone really did get their turn.
But sometimes it was on the edge and then Cor and I intervened. Teasing is fun; bullying is not done. That backfired a few times. One of our most famous regulars John Wyce (street musician of the Albert Cuyp) was among the easy victims, but he fought back valiantly and there seemed to be a balance.
Until one day it really went too far. When John went home, everyone, really everyone had to deal with Cor’s fury. Strangely enough, John started to withdraw after that. Instead of tall stories, he sat still in a corner and barely thanked anyone for the lagers he was offered. After two weeks, Cor couldn’t hold on. “What the hell is going on, John?” ………… A big sigh. “No one winds me up anymore, no one teases me; I must have done something terribly wrong.”