Once Upon a Summertime by Melody Carlson Page B

“Am I interrupting you?”
    â€œThat’s okay.” Shawna smiled as she extinguished her cigarette. “But good news—Mickey and I are back together again. We ironed things out.”
    â€œI’m so happy for you,” she said in a chilly tone. “If you don’t mind, I need to have a word with Mickey.”
    â€œNothing you can say to me that Shawna can’t hear,” Mickey said with a defiant look in his eye.
    â€œOkay then.” Anna nodded. “Mickey, you are fired.” She waited.
    â€œYou can’t fire me.” Mickey stood up and glared at her.
    â€œI’m the manager,” she pointed out. “I can fire you.”
    â€œOn what grounds?” he demanded.
    â€œYou are not doing your job.” She held up her fingers and listed the things he had failed to do.
    â€œBut I was about to do that,” he argued.
    â€œThat’s what you always say.” She frowned. “Or else you lie to me and tell me you have already done it—when you know you haven’t.”
    â€œYou’re not being fair,” he protested.
    â€œIt’s not fair for you to pretend you’re an employee here, Mickey, when you clearly have no intention of actually working.”
    â€œYou can’t talk to me like that.” Mickey turned to Shawna. “You heard her, didn’t you? You’ll back me in this, won’t you?”
    Anna pointed at Shawna. “You’re already on probation, Shawna. And I just caught you smoking on motel property too.”
    â€œAre you firing Shawna too?” Mickey demanded.
    Anna shrugged. “Sure. Why not just get it over with?”
    â€œYou can’t do—”
    â€œI just did,” Anna told them. “Please get your things and leave the premises immediately.” She turned and walked away, feeling a bit like an evil employer. As she entered the building, she could feel her hands shaking. She hurried back to the reception area, starting to question herself. She felt worried that she had handled it all wrong. Worse than that, she felt worried that she wasn’t cut out for management. Because really, if she couldn’t handle this kind of stress at the Value Lodge, how could she expect to handle it in New York?

6
    Not long after the registration hour ended, the motel owners showed up. “Rich will watch the reception area,” Sharon briskly told Anna. “You will come with me.”
    Anna simply nodded. She had been expecting this. Mickey had obviously gone whining to his aunt, complaining about how Anna had been unfair. Now Sharon was here to force Anna to take him back. She would make excuses and promise that he would do better. Just like she’d done before.
    Sharon closed the door to the staff room, then turned to look at Anna. “Mickey told me what happened.”
    â€œI’m sure he told you his version of what happened.”
    â€œNot only his version,” Sharon corrected, “but Shawna’s as well.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œYes, they both claim that you have been too hard on all the staff. They say that you are always complaining about the motel and how cheap it is and how no one works hard enough. It sounds as if you have created a very hostile workenvironment for everyone. It sounds as if the guests have even mentioned it.”
    Anna blinked. “You’re kidding.”
    â€œNo, I am not.” Sharon firmly shook her head. “I’ve tried to overlook it in the past when you and Mickey locked horns. But I’m afraid the time has come to let you go, Anna.”
    â€œLet me go?”
    â€œYes. I know your grandmother and I are old friends, but I’m sure she’ll understand. We gave it a good try. Some people just aren’t cut out for management.”
    â€œBut I—”
    â€œI’ll admit that I was taken in by your fancy college degree and your pretty face, but it’s been a mistake from the get-go. I