Can’t We All Just Get Along

“The hardest obstacles we face in life can break us, make us strong, or both.  I learned that sometimes one has to be broken down in order to be rebuilt.” ~ Jennifer Lightburn 5/17/2014

 

It was a beautiful, hot summer’s day, but the white walls of my office were cold, as was the draft that flowed through the vents on the ceiling, which forced me to blast my space-heater.  Still, I could hear the increased volume of Mohammad and Verna, through the hallway and walls of her office. 

“I want to make a formal complaint,” Mohammad demanded.

That’s when I clicked the volume icon to turn down my music.

“I heard your complaint, and I’ll look into it,” Verna replied.

“No, I’m not done.”

“Yes, you are.”

“We have a scheduled time, and I haven’t finished telling you,” Mohammad said.

“You’ve told me enough, and I said I’d handle it.  Now I have to go,” Verna said just before her office door opened and she stormed out.

“This is ridiculous!” Mohammad shouted; though, his shout was meeker than most. 

Had I seen tears in his eyes as he walked out? 

What the hell is going on?

I called Tiffany to request permission to forward the receptionist calls.  “She’ll be back in ten minutes, but I’ll be back before then,” I reassured her.

I ran through the office, but that was the norm for me, so I didn’t cause commotion.  I found Mohammad in the warehouse.  His eyes were glossy and he didn’t seem startled when I approached him.

“Is everything ok?”

“Not since Sarah left.  The company has gone down-hill since we hired Verna.  At least Sarah would listen to us.  Verna doesn’t.”

“What happened?”

“You’re a part of HR, so I can tell you,” he said, and we walked outside of the building. 

I stopped to light a cigarette since I was outside.

“No, see that camera.  They can see and hear everything.  Come on,” he said.

I lit my cigarette and followed him. 

It was hot as hell outside, but being under the blue sky and hearing birds chirping and the roar of an airplane flying above, and the vision of green trees, made the dry heat blowing on my skin worth the walk.

“I know they’re trying to fire me.  You don’t have to tell me because I don’t want you to get in any trouble.  I’m the IT Manager.  I know everything,” he said, when we reached the picnic benches.

“So, you told Verna?”

“No, I told her that wanted to file a formal complaint.  Ahmed is harassing me and he’s being discriminatory.”

“How so?”

“Haven’t you noticed that he only wants to hire Indians?”

“Um, aren’t you Indian?”

“Just like all Spanish people aren’t Mexicans, all Asians aren’t Indians.”

I felt ignorant enough at this point, so I wasn’t going to ask what Asia had to do with Indians.  I figured I’d Google it when I got back to the office.

“Asia is the continent and there are many countries in the region,” Mohammad said, obviously seeing the stupid look on my face.

“So, he only likes to hire Indians?  That’s discrimination.”

“Yes, and that’s the only reason he hired Kumar because Kumar is as dumb as a doorknob.  I told Ahmed that Kumar wasn’t qualified but he hired him anyway.  And he hates Muslims.  Every time Ahmed knows it’s time for me to pray, he tasks me with some mundane activity that even doorknob could do.  He follows me when I leave work, and if I just want to take a quick walk outside, I turn around, and there he is.”

“Ok, calm down,” I said, seeing anger in Mohammad’s eyes, for the first time, of the most peaceful man I knew. 

To Be Continued…