crushed

Today, was not the best day. Jeff was off, but came in during my lunch break.

To clean out his office.

It seems our regional director wants to prove a point. The corporate auditors were out last week, 8 out 10 stores failed. It sounds bad, but it is not very hard to fail an audit. A couple of missing phones, a few forgotten signatures. That's all it takes.

They didn't come to our store. But still, stores have to improve. So, they are taking good, proven managers and put them in struggling stores. Jeff was one that went.

I couldn't believe it. My heart was breaking as I watched him clean out his desk. I had to walk away when I saw the tears in his eyes, and never imagined I would be the one who was signing his keys back in.

It was all very quick and mysterious. We went through four o' clock before we knew who our manager would be. Our regional is calling the shots. Jeff had no say in it. He did tell him I could run the store just as well as it has been the past three years. It is not to be.

I have talked with several people today and this evening. I have gotten some really great advice and encouragement.

Still, I will go in tomorrow with a new manager waiting for me.

This really sucks. I never, ever imagined I would be working without him at his store. The moves are not temporary. He has been my mentor, he pushes when I need to be, tells me when I am wrong, and rewards me when I am right. I am going to miss him.

I picked the wrong day to try and quit smoking.