THE ALMOST ACCIDENT

now if you are faint of stomach, turn away from this entry........

i work every day i am scheduled.  even when i am sick, i work.  i have not been well of late, having some severe gastric problems as well as severe knee and side back pain.  i realize that with age comes ailments.  and i am beginning to have my share. 

over the last couple of weeks i have had severe gastric pain.  i thought at first it was a kidney stone, and still might have been.  but i also have some gastric disturbances.

now i have said all that to tell what happened today:

my general manager is a man.  men do not usually understand women.  it seems to be the general rule.  today, i had an emergency situation arise.  i had a sudden urge, no, wait, a sudden demand, to go to the restroom, which is at the very back of the store.  i had only one more customer in my line, so i completed their transaction and threw up my closed sign, told the casher next to me i was headed to the bathroom, and hurried to the rear of the store.  i almost didn't make it.  i realize this is an embarrassing situation, not only for the person it is happening to, but to those who hear about it later.  but it is a fact of life and cannot be helped.

after completing my mission, i rushed back to the front and was met by my general manager.  he immediately began berating me for abandoning my post and not notifying my fes (front end supervisor).  i told him i didn't have time to notify anyone but the cashier next to me, and he tried to over talk me, and then got angry because i tried to defend my actions.  the meeting did not go well, and we both parted angry at the other.  i am sick and tired of being made to feel guilty for doing what God intends for us to do....and that includes using the restroom, getting something to drink and taking breaks.  the smokers take numerous smoke breaks outside during their shift.  i don't smoke, but if i stand still for more than 10 seconds and the general manager sees me, he berates me.  i know every job has its problems, and that if i were to go somewhere else to work, i would find something to complain about.  but to be berated in front of three other employees and numerous customers for having to rush to the bathroom is the last straw.  if i wasn't so far in debt as it is, i would have walked off the job and told him what to do with it.  but unfortunately, i have been unable to secure another position elsewhere, and have to keep some form of employment to survive.  thus........i suck it up and put up with it.  but you know what???  next time i will stand there and crap on myself and then tell him i must go home and shower and change clothes, and then report him for not allowing me to go to the bathroom.

ok, i am done venting on my idiot boss............