‘I need you to review this,’ she said as she slid the table toward me.
I had just finished up my leech therapy for the day, which meant I hadn’t been given any pain meds in a while, so maybe I was a bit short with her.
‘This my termination paperwork?’
She gave me what could only be described as a half-grin – not her usual wide, white-toothed smile. She still spoke with the trademarked singsong voice she used when she was pretending you weren’t getting under her skin. ‘Unfortunately for you, no. It’s just an OSHA incident form. When there’s an accident, we’re required to fill these out. I’ve filled out most of it, but you’ll need to write down whatever you can remember and sign it.’
‘I have to do this now?’
‘No.’ She took the paper away and put it on the counter next to the nurse’s sink. Then she withdrew another form, this one several pages long. ‘I’ll also need you to look over this and let me know if any amendments need to be made.’
The form saidSupervisor Accident Investigation Formand listed all my information, as well as the date and time and witnesses. Gabe’s and James’s names were both listed. The following page had a human figure with the left fingers circled and a box next to it markedamputation.
I scanned everything, but it all looked fine. There was no emotion in the form – she didn’t mention that I had been arguing, just that I had become distracted while talking with a coworker. I handed it back to her and said it was fine.
‘Do I need a lawyer?’ I asked.
‘Only if you’re planning to sue, which you don’t have to tell me if you are.’ She put the form back in her folder. ‘Your mother said you won’t be back at work until July.’
I nodded. Possibly sooner, but that was if I did well in physical therapy when I started that up in three months.
She pursed her lips and took another piece of paper out of her folder. ‘Well, guess I should hand this off to you now, then.’
I took it from her. It was a letter printed on the Sunset Estates letterhead. I assumed it said I was being laid off. Maybe she didn’t consider it a termination notice because I couldn’t physically come back to work. I almost thanked her and put the paper down, but the salutation caught my eye.
To the Admissions Committeeof La Mère Labont.
‘What is this?’
‘Your letter of recommendation.’
I skimmed it, expecting some rude statements about my inability to use kitchen utensils or my failure to follow kitchen safety guidelines.
But it was a real recommendation. Sure, it didn’t have the flowery praise that George’s letter had; it was all business. Which was probably what she knew Chef Louis would be looking for. She didn’t mention that she used to work at one of his restaurants – obviously unwilling to pull those strings – but she did say I showed ‘immense talent that would only be amplified by an education at a prestigious institution like La Mère’.
I looked back up at her. ‘I don’t get it. Was the third task cutting off my fingers?’
She frowned. ‘No. The third task was going to be a shift where you were on the line with Chef Roni all night.’
My jaw dropped. ‘But I’m not allowed to work in the kitchen until I’m eighteen.’
‘You’re not allowed to doprep workuntil you’re eighteen – things involving the stand mixer, grill, ovens.Knives, now.’ I did see that she’d writtenKnives only to be used after proper training and by employees of at least eighteen years of ageon the OSHA form underRecommended preventive action to take in the future to prevent reoccurrence.
‘My plan,’ she continued, ‘was to have you work the line while Sean G. called. Then Roni would give me your performance evaluation.’
I looked at the letter in my hand. I would have totally killed that if I’d been able to do it. So why had she written the letter anyway?
‘Is this so I don’t sue you?’ I asked.
She sighed, frustration starting to rear its ugly head. ‘No, Thomas. You made a mistake. We don’t punish well-performing employees because they make mistakes.’
‘But—’
‘Fine, I’ll take it back.’ Natalie opened her folder and held her hand out.
I clutched the letter to my chest, gently. ‘No, please. I’ll keep it.’
She closed the folder again. ‘You’re welcome.’
