One Detention Saved My Life

Chapter 15

     I walk into the bakery on Sunday morning excited, a big charming smile forming on my face. Before I left the truck, I set my phone to record. I made up my mind this morning that today was the day that I was going to expose Jimmy's bitterness to Dad.
   "You look happy this morning," Dad says as I grab an apron off a hook.
"Yeah, I am. The party was awesome last night."
  "Was Amy there?"
  "No," I lie.
"Glad to hear your not disobeying me."
"Can I work with Olivia today?"
"Of course. Well, if you don't need anything else I'm going to retreat to my office. I still need to sort out a few things with the bakery on excel."
   As soon as I hear the door to Dad's office click shut I shuffle my feet to my workstation, where Olivia makes some kind of batter and Jimmy hovers over her.
   "Well, well, well, look who it is," Jimmy says turning his gaze in my direction.
  "Let me do my job," I reply trying to ignore him. Olivia what are we making today?"
  "Snicker doodles."
  "Can I mix the batter?"
She hands me the mixing bowl and I get to work, although I still feel Jimmy's intimidating eyes still watching me.
  "Don't ignore me," Jimmy says irritated.
"I'm doing my job," I repeat.
  Jimmy eyes the bowl in my hand and looks back up at me.
   "Those cookies better be perfect."
He starts to walk away, but I get the urge to engage him.
  "There is no such thing as perfect. Just like your fake personality isn't perfect and F.Y.I  I can see right through it."
   Jimmy gets right up in my face. "Listen hear you little shithead, you will not affect my chances at this job."
  "You mean your chances of ever becoming the boss. That's why you're so nice to my dad.
  Jimmy slaps me across the face. "You have no idea how bad it feels to have more seniority over someone and not get the job. My previous boss hired your idiot father to be the owner because he didn't think I could handle it!"
  Olivia is in shock beside me. I'm still a little shocked that Jimmy hit me. I reach up and touch my face, it burns slightly.
"Life is full of disappointments, Jimmy. My life's been full of them."
  He doesn't say anything and storms off. When he's completely gone Olivia turns to me.
  "You okay?
  "I will be when his ass if fired. I got the whole thing on audio by the way."
  " Hallelujah, I don't know how much more of Jimmy I could take."
  "That makes two of us," I say placing the batter on a cookie sheet. I realize one thing as I place the cookie sheet in the oven and that is that I  swore in in the audio/ video camera on my phone.

  It's five minutes before my shift ends when I walk into Dad's office.
   "I need to talk to you about something important."
  Dad turns around in his chair. "Like what?"
  "Jimmy. He needs to be fired."
"He's one of my best employees."
  "I thought you might say that."
     I play the blackened video/audio I recorded on my phone. Dad's face goes from shock to anger.
   "I thought Jimmy was my friend. I was a complete idiot for believing that!"
  Dad angrily gets up out of his chair, slams open the door, and shouts," Jimmy, in my office now!"
    Jimmy comes running into Dad's office.
   "Yes, Boss," Jimmy says.
   "You're fired!"
    "What?" Jimmy asks confused.
   "You're fired," Dad repeats. "I can't work with someone that is trying to get rid of me."
   "I never said that," Jimmy lies.
  "Tim got it all on video.
  Jimmy glares daggers at me. "I hate you,you little shithead."
  "Don't call my son a shithead! Now get out of my office!"
   Jimmy gives Dad the finger and then shouts,"Fuck you!" Jimmy then slams the door as hard as he can, causing us  both to jump.
   "Tim, let's call it a day."
  "Okay," I reply as we walk out of the bakery.

  Tuesday morning I pack up my remaining things in the back of Kelly's car. Dad had to leave early this morning for work, so Kelly promised to take me to the hospital to pick up Mom. I was hesitant at first, afraid that Mom would freak out, but then I relented and agreed for Kelly to take me there.
  "You ready to go?" Kelly asks as I climb into her car.
  "Yeah," I reply.

  The night before, Dad got real emotional. He didn't want me to go. He was afraid that I would never come back.
   "Do you have to leave?" He asked.
   "Yeah. Mom needs me more than ever right now. I'll come back on weekends, I promise."
   "Just weekends?! I've really become attached to you."
  "Just remember I wasn't the one who left, you did."
  Dad has tears in his eyes. "I regret it every day of my life."
I walked away, not wanting to see Dad pity himself. I was proud of myself. Proud that I was able to stand up for myself without Amy around.