every two seconds to see if anyone was
following. That left me in a blue funk by the time I got to T&M, a
mood not helped by Shannon's pouncing the minute I reported for
duty.
"Was that guy in the truck the same guy staring at you
Friday night?"
"Yes."
"You've hooked up with him?"
I turned to locate Analena before I answered. "Of course not.
It's a long story that I can't tell you now."
"What time's your dinner break?"
"Eight, I think."
"Crap! Mine's at seven. Maybe we could go someplace after
work?"
"Attention, everyone. Gather around me, please." Our boss
motioned for us to join her.
Great. Another pep talk. We lived for them...not.
Analena got right to the point. "I've noticed that several of
you are not parking where you're supposed to. The front lot is for
mall customers only. Every time your car takes up a space, we lose a
sale."
Several of us exchanged dubious glances. Weren't we
customers, too? And how could the mall stay open without people
working there? That should count for something.
"Mall managers have asked that all employees please
cooperate as we gear up for holiday shopping. I expect my workers
to do what they've been asked to do."
I raised my hand like a first grader. Analena sighed
dramatically. "What is it now, Riley?" She crossed her arms over her
chest, clearly ready to shoot down whatever suggestion I had.
But today I didn't have one. "Friday night I parked in the
back lot. On my way to my car after work, three guys accosted me." I
heard gasps all around. "If it hadn't been for a total stranger coming
to my rescue, I don't know what would have happened."
"Was the guy in the truck the one who saved you?"
I ignored Shannon's whispered question. "The back lot
doesn't have enough poles, and what lights there are, don't half
work."
"Did you report this incident to mall security?"
"No. I called the city cops."
Analena gaped at me. "Without asking anyone if you
should?"
Behind me, I heard whispers.
"Is she for real? "
"What a bitch."
"She's got to be kidding!"
I pretended not to hear. "I need permission to call 9-1-
1?"
Clearly furious, Analena opened her mouth, but snapped it
shut again. "All we need is for customers to panic because they think
the mall has security issues. Now I've told you what is expected. How
many of you have parked in the wrong area today?" Yep. She'd blown
me off, as usual.
Five of us raised our hands, all females, even though I knew
dang well the guys weren't parking in back, either.
"Shannon, go move your car. Riley, you go when she gets
back. Heather, Marie, and Rachel you go after that. Now everyone get
to work. We have hungry customers."
Grumbling, we all resumed the life and death business--in
our boss's eyes, anyway--of selling tacos. Did I move my car from the
front lot to the back when Shannon returned? Absolutely not. Just
the thought of later exiting the building into that dark area made me
sick to my stomach. Although Zander had shown up last night, I
didn't expect him tonight. So I told Heather to go ahead. Did Analena
notice that I didn't do as commanded? Of course.
I made sure of it.
And it was with great glee that she fired me the moment the
lunch crowd thinned out. On my way home, I didn't know whether to
laugh or cry. T&M had never been a good fit, but I still felt like a
failure. I mean, how many people got fired from a job that consisted
of stuffing tacos in a sack? And there couldn't have been a worse
time to be unemployed, what with Christmas right around the
corner. But I couldn't let Analena dictate my safety. I was responsible
for that. Me. I'd find another job.
I pulled into my driveway around two-thirty, just in time to
see Zander exiting the house. He wore nice jeans and a rust-colored
polo shirt that made his brown eyes pop. I braked. He waited, clearly
wondering what I was doing there that time of day.
"You look very nice," I told him as I walked up.
"Thanks. Why are you here?"
"I've been sacked."
His eyes flew open wide.
following. That left me in a blue funk by the time I got to T&M, a
mood not helped by Shannon's pouncing the minute I reported for
duty.
"Was that guy in the truck the same guy staring at you
Friday night?"
"Yes."
"You've hooked up with him?"
I turned to locate Analena before I answered. "Of course not.
It's a long story that I can't tell you now."
"What time's your dinner break?"
"Eight, I think."
"Crap! Mine's at seven. Maybe we could go someplace after
work?"
"Attention, everyone. Gather around me, please." Our boss
motioned for us to join her.
Great. Another pep talk. We lived for them...not.
Analena got right to the point. "I've noticed that several of
you are not parking where you're supposed to. The front lot is for
mall customers only. Every time your car takes up a space, we lose a
sale."
Several of us exchanged dubious glances. Weren't we
customers, too? And how could the mall stay open without people
working there? That should count for something.
"Mall managers have asked that all employees please
cooperate as we gear up for holiday shopping. I expect my workers
to do what they've been asked to do."
I raised my hand like a first grader. Analena sighed
dramatically. "What is it now, Riley?" She crossed her arms over her
chest, clearly ready to shoot down whatever suggestion I had.
But today I didn't have one. "Friday night I parked in the
back lot. On my way to my car after work, three guys accosted me." I
heard gasps all around. "If it hadn't been for a total stranger coming
to my rescue, I don't know what would have happened."
"Was the guy in the truck the one who saved you?"
I ignored Shannon's whispered question. "The back lot
doesn't have enough poles, and what lights there are, don't half
work."
"Did you report this incident to mall security?"
"No. I called the city cops."
Analena gaped at me. "Without asking anyone if you
should?"
Behind me, I heard whispers.
"Is she for real? "
"What a bitch."
"She's got to be kidding!"
I pretended not to hear. "I need permission to call 9-1-
1?"
Clearly furious, Analena opened her mouth, but snapped it
shut again. "All we need is for customers to panic because they think
the mall has security issues. Now I've told you what is expected. How
many of you have parked in the wrong area today?" Yep. She'd blown
me off, as usual.
Five of us raised our hands, all females, even though I knew
dang well the guys weren't parking in back, either.
"Shannon, go move your car. Riley, you go when she gets
back. Heather, Marie, and Rachel you go after that. Now everyone get
to work. We have hungry customers."
Grumbling, we all resumed the life and death business--in
our boss's eyes, anyway--of selling tacos. Did I move my car from the
front lot to the back when Shannon returned? Absolutely not. Just
the thought of later exiting the building into that dark area made me
sick to my stomach. Although Zander had shown up last night, I
didn't expect him tonight. So I told Heather to go ahead. Did Analena
notice that I didn't do as commanded? Of course.
I made sure of it.
And it was with great glee that she fired me the moment the
lunch crowd thinned out. On my way home, I didn't know whether to
laugh or cry. T&M had never been a good fit, but I still felt like a
failure. I mean, how many people got fired from a job that consisted
of stuffing tacos in a sack? And there couldn't have been a worse
time to be unemployed, what with Christmas right around the
corner. But I couldn't let Analena dictate my safety. I was responsible
for that. Me. I'd find another job.
I pulled into my driveway around two-thirty, just in time to
see Zander exiting the house. He wore nice jeans and a rust-colored
polo shirt that made his brown eyes pop. I braked. He waited, clearly
wondering what I was doing there that time of day.
"You look very nice," I told him as I walked up.
"Thanks. Why are you here?"
"I've been sacked."
His eyes flew open wide.
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