Page 23 of Mr. Principal

I kept an arm around her shoulder as I led her back to our station in customer service. She quickly reached for a tissue and patted at her eyes while I accessed the sign-in system and signed us both in.

She sniffled a little but was no longer crying. “Thanks for being so nice.”

“You don't have to thank me for being a decent human being.”

“Yeah, I do, because apparently, this world is full of horrible people. My ex and our current boss to name a few.”

“Gosh, don’t you wish there was a way to divorce your boss?”

“There is... it’s called quitting.” We both laughed and then a customer appeared.

For the next four hours, I didn't see Mr. Baxter so work wasn’t that bad. I was still tense the whole time because I thought at any moment that he would pop up to accuse us of doing something wrong.

Mo wasn’t in which was strange. He never missed a day of work.

“Hey, Lucy, do you know where Mo is today?”

“I think his wife is sick. Or maybe she has relatives coming into town. I can’t remember which, but he had to leave almost as soon as he arrived today.”

“Hmmm, I hope everything’s okay.”

“Hello, ladies,” Mr. Baxter said, suddenly appearing from the hallway that our customer service was near. “Ms... oh, I’m sorry, Mrs. Duran, can I see you in my office, please?”

I looked at Lucy and then back at him. “Why? I didn’t do anything wrong.” I was immediately on the defensive.

“That remains to be seen. My office now, Mrs. Duran.”

He turned away then and I looked back at Lucy who looked at me. “What’s going on?” I mouthed to her, she just shrugged and frowned deeply.

I turned around and followed him into his office. He motioned for me to sit down.

“So what is this all about?”

“Mo has been let go.”

“What?”

“He was no longer needed.” He cleared his throat and slid an envelope towards me. I took it and looked at him questioningly.

“I’m afraid we’re going to have to let you go, as well.”

“What? You can’t do this.”

He seemed to be enjoying himself. “I can. And I am. We’re downsizing your department and no longer have room for you here. You have until the end of the day.”

My head was spinning. I couldn’t believe what he was saying. “But but but I need this job. I have a daughter who relies on me—”

“Save the sob story. You should have thought of that before your insubordination the other day.”

I went from feeling blindsided to feeling furious. I narrowed my eyes. “My insubordination? You mean standing up to you? Well, you know what, since I’m being fired anyway, I’ll show you insubordination.”

I stood up and he stood up too.

I didn’t know what I planned to do. Hit him in the head with the stapler on his desk and run? Take off my shoe and throw it at him? Punch him in the face? I figured assault wouldn’t look good on my next resume, so I forced myself to not hit him, but boy was I tempted.

He must have realized that because he stepped back slightly.

“Get out of my office. Forget the end of the day. I want you out of here now.”