Things went pretty much okay at work. For my lunch, I really wanted some pizza and since I was right next to the pizza place and they always have it already made, I ran in there and bought a pizza, then took it back with me to clock out. Sherene was near the time clock and asked me if I was just clocking out for lunch. I said I was. I heard from some other people that she's in her pestering mood again. She gets like that when she's upset, like if she got chewed-out or something. I guess she picks on everyone for everything and they say to watch out for her. I wasn't as hungry as I thought.

It was pretty busy and I kept being called to help people in the store. When I had to go to Electronics to help Nick move a couple TVs, I had to wait while he helped a customer, so I looked at the games. My eyes fell on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle game! Wow, they had a new one? Cool! I used to always rent the ninja turtle games for NES and Sega Genesis, and then my brothers, Matt and Ben, took over that for me. This one looks cool and it's for the PS2, so I decided I would buy it for them.

When I was heading back to the front, Sherene stopped me and asked me when I got off tonight. I thought a little and told her that my shift ended at 11. She said she wanted to see me before I went home and I agreed to that. I wondered what she wanted to speak to me about for a while after that. Did she want to tell me some dumb manager advice about making sure I get something done like they always do and like I always get done, anyway? Was it about me looking through the games while waiting for Nick? Was it about me hanging out with Randy the other day on my break and her not knowing I was on break? Then I remembered I was an hour late today. Ah ha, that was probably it! I asked a few people and they said that since Pat's not my manager, the news that I called in wouldn't reach her until tomorrow. That was probably it. The greeters were given strict rules not to talk to each other and just pay attention to the customers coming in and going out. I said something how I better not talk to them and Ruby asked if I got in trouble, too. I said I hadn't, yet. I still had to see Sherene before I went home, though. I decided I didn't want it to cut into my shift, so I'd see her right at 11.

Hannah came to me when it was almost 11 and said that Sherene wanted to see me. I walked to the back room and found her. She said that we'd talk in Store Manager John's office so it would be in private. In there, she called CSM Thor in. CSMs are like supervisors for cashiers, people greeters, and stockmen like me. She closed the door and sat down. From what I remember, it went something like this:

Her: I want to ask you some questions.
Me: Okay.
Her: Let's talk about your lunch.
Me: You mean like, what I did on my lunch?
Her: Yeah. Or, what you did right before your lunch.
Me: Um... oh yeah. I went and bought pizza on the clock and then took it with me to clock out.
Her: And it's not the first time. You usually do that.
Me: No, not usually.
Her: How many times would you say you did it?
Me: Hmm... well... of the times that I do get pizza... maybe... 25% of the time?
Her: How many times would that be about?
Me: Um... like... 10-15.
Her: Times?
Me: Yeah.
Her: And what if everyone did that?... Well, so 20 minutes for 10-15 times each--
Me: It doesn't take 20 minutes.
Her: Well, they have to heat it up.
Me: No, it's already made.
Her: So it just takes you the time to walk over there and buy it and come back.
Me: Yeah.
Her: Then go put it in the break room and clock out.
Me: Yeah. But I'm usually over there anyway so I don't even have to walk over there.
Her: Okay. What about Subway?
Me: When I get Subway, I usually eat it there. But even when I bring it back, I always clock out first. I don't think I've ever gone to Subway and gotten my food when I was on the clock (if I did, it was a long time ago).
Her: Okay. There have also been reports of people seeing you out on the parking lot and talking while not working, talking while working, sitting on a bench out front when you're supposed to be working...
Me: Well, sometimes I take my break with my vest on because I don't want to go inside and put it away.
Her: How are we supposed to know if you're on break then?
Me: Well, usually you ask if you're wondering. Besides, people take breaks with their vests on all the time.
Her: But they usually tell people when they're going on break.
Me: I tell the people greeters and other stockmen.
Her: Well, when I've gotten reports of other associates and assistant managers, and CSMs say that you just disappear sometimes and they don't know where you are for a while. I can't ignore all this.

Then she told me I was being terminated for theft of company time and I had to give her my discount card, name badge, and vest, and she walked me to the front. I went home and really felt emotionless about the whole thing. I told my parents and they weren't mad. They just said it was unfortunate and that next time not to take liberties like that. They both agree that it was an unorganized system and too loose. It started getting to me more and I was depressed by it for a while, but then I went to bed and woke up and felt fine. I just need to find another job. I needed a better job, anyway.