July 4, 2001 was my last day working for the grocery store Winn-Dixie. I did not want to leave. It was a good job. Alas, the chain was going out of business in my area. I was already employed elsewhere, with Walmart.
I worked many busy hours at two stores for over two weeks. It was against the rules in both but the managers pretended not to notice. I did what I did with their blessing. I did not stay at Winn-Dixie for my own sake, to be clear.
By the rules of the part of the world I live in, I am morally obligated to give my employers a two week notice before leaving. Working at Winn-Dixie till July 4th exceeded this expectation.
In my country, July 4th is Independence Day. It is among the busiest days of the year. When I gave my two week notice, the manager of Winn-Dixie despaired. He remarked that Walmart deliberately hired me quickly to keep him from having enough workers on July 4th. His accusation was probably true, since the new Walmart supercenter being built was intended to put smaller businesses like Winn-Dixie out of business.
I stayed days longer than I wanted to. Not only was I tired, but there was drama between myself and a co-worker at Winn-Dixie I would rather escape. The manager was not a friend of mine. I did not owe him a favor… for anything. I heard the despair in his voice and saw it in his face. I did what I did for him… to give him peace of mind.
I worked very hard on my last day. I did more than what was ever required. I did not leave until the manager said all was well. He smiled. He shook my hand and swore that if I ever needed him for anything, he would help. There was nothing he could do for me… but I knew he meant what he said. I was glad I did what I did for him.
I did what I did twenty-four years ago. It did not change
the world. It meant nothing in the grand scheme of things. It give one man
peace, however. Rather than say “Peace be with you” and leave him to his fate,
I acted instead. It was not what I wanted to do… and I had every right to do
what I want… but I am what I am.
