henry

In the year 2000, being out of work, I applied for a part-time job in a hospital’s kitchen through an agent. The manager of the kitchen, a lady, was more on admin side, attending to meetings …etc. The daily running was left to a male supervisor.

One month into the job, I was approached by a gentleman in his mid-thirties while having a puff during lunch time. Questioned by him “which department are you from?, do you know it’s an offence to smoke within Hospital's premises?”  Told him that I knew it was prohibited within the building but not at the place where I was, at the extreme end of the Hospital and beside the road. I apologized to him and he nodded his head. After lunch, I was summoned to the manager’s office.

First question from her ‘henry, were you the one who was caught smoking?’ Second question, ‘did you argue with him?’ Told her that, yes, I was the one and I apologized to him, no arguments involved. She was very relieved to hear that. She made known to me that smoking was not a great offence but because I was caught by one of the directors, she found an urgent needs to answer to him. She even made known to me of her intentions, that is, reply to the director’s e-mail that I was given a warning letter, which in actual fact, none took place. This matter was not even to be brought up to my agent. The primary purpose was just to satisfy the director. Good compromise and so I accepted.

Two days later, on my off day, I was reprimanded by my wife after having some bites outside. She scolded me. “just now, I received a call from your agent and that your services have been terminated because you argued with someone from the hospital” I knew it was the doing of the supervisor. Feeling furious and without hesitation, I started to write a letter to the manager.

Internet just took off from my country and it was very expensive. So, I’m going to do it the conventional way – by post. When a person is down and out, even the printer was against me. There was no more black ink. I told myself, if that’s the case, then print the letter in red…for red symbolized anger. In few days time, the manager will receive my letter…..