If You’re Going To Lie, At Least Do It Well

I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome as a little girl. Due to my disability, as well as the fact that I do not have a driver’s license, I wasn’t able to land a job until my early twenties. After being turned down at countless other places, I finally manage to get a job as a waitress at a small restaurant on the outskirts of Chicago.

About a year into my job, we have a new shift manager take over for the one who originally hired me. One day, I’m sweeping the floor when the shift manager approaches me and orders me to the office.

Me: “What’s up?”

Manager: “[My Name], you are fired.”

Me: *Shocked* “On what grounds?”

Manager: *Sternly* “You know what I’m referring to.”

I don’t know at all what she’s referring to.

Me: “Was it something I did? Did I not clock my hours correctly? Was there a shortfall in the till? Please, tell me!”

Manager: “I shouldn’t have to tell you. You already know.”

Me: “Honest, I don’t know! Really!”

Manager: *Raising her voice* “Don’t you lie to me! You know what happened, and you know that it warrants your termination.”

I’m on the verge of tears at this point.

Me: “You don’t understand! I don’t know what I did to deserve this!”

Manager: *Now yelling* “YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID! DON’T YOU TELL ME YOU DON’T KNOW!”

The head chef overhears the manager’s yelling and steps into the office. He is visibly angry.

Head Chef: “What’s going on? What’s all the yelling about?”

I can’t take it anymore and break down crying.

Me: “I just got fired! I don’t know why, and [Manager] isn’t telling me!”

Manager: “SHUT UP! YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHY!”

Head Chef: “No, she doesn’t, and neither do I. Please tell me what happened, and why you fired [My Name].”

Manager: “It’s none of your business!”

Head Chef: “Actually, as the owner of [Restaurant], this is very much my business.” *Sternly* “Now please, tell me what you fired [My Name] for.”

Manager: “Okay, fine! I’m firing her for insubordination!”

Head Chef: “Insubordination, huh? Show me her write-ups. I want proof of this.”

The manager suddenly goes pale. She begins scrambling through the desk.

Manager: “Umm… I… I think I misplaced them.”

The head chef glares at her for a moment and then turns to me.

Head Chef: “Why don’t you go take a break, [My Name]? Take a moment to pull yourself together. I would like to talk one-on-one with [Manager].”

While I was regrouping in the break room, I could hear the head chef yelling at the shift manager in the office. We had a new shift manager by week’s end.

I later learned from a coworker that the now ex-shift manager had planned to directly fire me for being on the autism spectrum and was trying to pass it off as insubordination. The head chef knew better, not only because the former shift manager failed to provide any proof of my so-called “insubordination,” but also because, as it turns out, he actually had the same disability as me.

I’m still working there to this day, but I haven’t seen the former shift manager since the day she was fired.

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