4 of 71

Write now Article Tools

Page 11 of 11

van.

"What the hell happened up there", he demanded.

"It was your call", I replied, this time with an attitude.

He didn't like the fact that since we were out of the proverbial woods, I was giving him an attitude right back.

"You should have been in the girls group", he continued, "You suck".

Trying to still hold onto what little piece was left of my job, I agreed with him and took a seat in the front seat of the van. The students loaded into the back and we headed back to camp, this time taking a completely different route.

When I got back to base camp, I was instructed to pack up all my belongings and head down to the supervisors cabin. I did as instructed, and was told that I could return when I felt better. My spirits lifted, I gathered my things and said goodbye, for now.

After a long walk down the road to the cabin, I was finally able to relax and rest on a traditional bunk bed.

The things we take for granted, I thought to myself. My right leg felt like it had been shattered. The entire lower half of my body was in very intense pain when my supervisor walked in and offered me a ride to the red cabin. I agreed.

For reasons unexplained to me, my supervisor took a very alternate route back to the red cabin, which took almost twice as long as the ride in the day before. Upon arrival at the red cabin, I loaded all my belongings into the back of my car and made a phone call.

It was To my wife.

"There's been an accident", I said in a depressed voice, to which she replied, "Is everything okay? Where are you?"

The ones you love are always way too far away when you are injured or in pain. I was experiencing both at this moment in time. She suggested I go and get a nice bite to eat and then come home in the morning.

Whenever I'm depressed, I crave fast food. Being injured, in a lot of pain, or just under the weather can usually be eased with a good meal. And, yet another boring fast food meal ensued. I returned to the red cabin and fell asleep rather quickly.

The next morning I awoke to the sun in my eyes. It was just turning six in the morning and I left for home. I was told I'd get a call back in a week.

A week went by. Then two. I decided to call the job to find out when I could come back and let them know I'm all better. A secretary took a message for my supervisor, who just so happened to be out of town every time I called, which was once every other day.

Finally, three weeks had passed since the accident. I took a trip to the job to meet with my supervisor directly. The secretary this time gave me a very bad attitude and told me he was out of town. I turned around to see him about to walk out the door.

I took one very long look at him, then to the secretary, and knew my position here was over. Nobody had to tell me that I had been "let go" due to an injury. I left out the front door and never looked back.

Learn more about this author, Thomas Slatin.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• ...
• 9
• 10
• 11

Add your voice

Know something about Testimonials: Humorous stories from of job loss and unemployment?
We want to hear your view. Write now!