I Just Got Fired

[SiobhanClancy]

and I am in shock over it. I don't know why anyone would be interested in hearing about it,but I have a need to express my feelings about it anyway.
I work(or did,until about 10:30 this morning)at a campus shop at Boston University. I'm the assistant manager. This summer,they have had a major renovation project going on,with constuction crews working in the store while it is open. Yesterday(the manager had taken the day off)they were building a new cash area. For a few minutes..maybe 5 or ten..there was no barrier around it because of the work they were doing. An eldery woman came in and promptly tripped over it,causing minor lacerations to her head. EMTs and BU police were called,but the woman(adamantly)refused any medical help.The Director of Operations called me and chastised me for it,although the construction guys told him later that they were to blame,not me. I feel terrible about the woman(a regular customer and a student,believe it or not)being hurt,although she seems to be fine and was going about her regular activities later that afternoon. This morning,the Director came in and called me aside(not looking me in the eye)and said he had thought about it and was going to "let me go" because "we should be able to do better for our customers than this" He then presented me with an envelope containing my last check and COBRA information,at which time I(being in a state of shock)actually thanked him,gave my keys to the manager(who is also in shock over it)and left. I have worked there for a year and a half,have never been late and have gotten regular raises. In July,I recieved my performance evaluation and a $2000(per year)raise. I've never had any warnings,complaints,etc.Having construction going on while the store was open has always concerned me. I don't know if I was fired because they are afraid of being sued and think this would help them. I'm just devastated by the whole business and can't even think straight about it. I feel like suddenly I'm just nothing and am being used as a sacrificial lamb,and at the same time I feel very guilty,as if I must be at fault and a bad person,since I was fired for it. I'm a middle-aged woman who spent most of her life as a housewife and I guess maybe I'm just no good in the "real" world. For anybody who took the time to read all this rambling,thanks for indulging my little excercise in self-pity. I guess I needed someone to talk to.