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@jar
I'm too old and fat to be a bike courier, and for the last few weeks (after my business folded) I've been couriering in a van. Today I picked up from a big magazine/media company who are based 'near' Hanover Square. One of the guys in the post room treated me like an idiot, really very belittling and most unnecessary. I was polite, and I walked away, just doing my best to get on with my job.
At the drop, which was at another of their offices, around the corner, he was there too (he'd walked) and we shared a lift. He took the opportunity to start laying into me. We had a continued exchange where I politely but firmly held my ground. He persisted and I said to him at one point, "mate, you don't have to cunt me off like this". The guy was miffed that he wasn't able to make me feel shit about myself, I'm sure of it.
Anyway, he phoned my boss, and lied to him about what I'd said, I mean he really twisted it... I was using the "C-word" as a verb, he said I was using it as a noun!!
My boss said that the client (well, the Post Room guy) was basically pulling rank on me, and he had no choice but to let me go. He said that if it was any other company it would be no problem, but these are a big client. I've worked for that courier company on and off for five years, I've never had any complaints, but frequently got tips. And it ends like this, I get bullied by some guy for a bit of sport and I hold my head up high and he gets me fired.
I wasn't clever swearing, I put my hands up, but the guy knew full well I wasn't swearing at him, I was just swearing, and there's a huge difference.
The good news is that I was offered a writing gig last week, but I'd been struggling getting anything down after twelve hours+ at work. This afternoon, after getting the old heave-ho, I sat in a cafe, with a comfort jacket potato, and banged out the writing thing, which I've now emailed for submission. If it gets accepted by the commissioner it'll be a regular gig.
Every cloud has a silver lining... Onwards and upwards, and all that jizz.
:)