Chapter 2

 

 

 

 

Well I don’t work at the convenience store any longer.  I got fired there.  There were a couple guys that tried to steal some beer and I stopped them but I got fired for saving the company money.

After I stopped the guys from stealing the beer and called the cops I went through a lot.  I guess when I stopped them from stealing I did hurt them a little.  I had to answer countless questions from the police.  A detective asked me a lot of the questions even though there was a surveillance video of the whole thing that clearly showed the two guys attacked me and I just defended myself.  Of course I knew about the cameras.

“So you were afraid for your very life you stated in the nine one one call?”

“Yes sir.  The first guy tried to kill me using that stolen case of beer.”

“Yes I saw that in the video.  At that point it was not stolen beer of course because they had not left with it.  You did not think you could get away from the two men?”

“No sir.  I can’t run very fast and I was sure if I tried to get away they would catch me and really hurt me or maybe even kill me.”

“So you were able to avoid getting hit by that case of beer and you broke the arm of that guy who swung the beer at you.  How did you learn to do that?”

“I really don’t know what I was doing and I’m not sure how that guy’s arm got broken.  I was so scared at that point I can’t even remember it very well at all.”

“Then after you some how broke the arm of that man, you were then attacked by the other man and he had a knife and said ‘he was going to cut you up real bad’?”

“I seem to remember him saying that sir.  Though I must admit when either one of them spoke it was very hard for me to understand what they were saying.  It was almost like they were speaking a different dialect of English.”

I think he smiled just a tiny bit at that statement.

“I see.  So it is a little hard to see on the video exactly what happened next when the man tried to stab you with that knife.  The knife is very plain in the video but what happened next is hard to follow even when we slow the tape way down.  It sure happened very fast.”

“I remember being very scared and then the man tried to stab me.  I guess I tried to get out of the way of the knife and somehow we tripped together and we both fell to the floor.  He was on the bottom and I guess I am pretty heavy and must have hurt him when we fell.  Do you think you will have to take me to jail?”

“I don’t think so.  It seems very obvious to me that you were viciously attacked by those two men and only through the grace of God you somehow came out of it without being hurt or killed.  I hope you can try to get past this and go on with your life.  I have your address and I might have to ask you more questions at some point but for right now I see no reason to even take you down to the police station.  I’m glad you are all right and did not get hurt.  I did run both of those guys’ names through the system and they both have long records with the police.  When they get out of the hospital they will be going directly to jail.  You are very lucky you did not get even a scratch on you through the whole ordeal.”

“I do feel very lucky to not have been hurt.”

“I suggest going home and trying to get some sleep.  Good day to you.  You are free to go.”

“Thank you sir.”

I did think it was kinda strange that the Detective did shake my hand before he left and he seemed to have a very small smile on his face when he did.  But he seemed like a nice man and likely he often smiled at people while doing his job.

I thought it was all done and over with at that point but boy was I ever wrong.  There were a million news people there but I refused to talk with any of them.  Though a couple of the reporters were very pretty and I admit I kinda wanted to talk with them but I didn’t.

The next night I went back in to work my shift and the boss was there and told me I was fired for my actions the previous night.  It was clearly against company policy to resist during any robbery and that was clearly stated in the employee handbook that I had signed a statement saying that I had received and read said the document I signed at the time of my hiring. 

That was it no notice, no nothing just I was out the door and among the many unemployed now.  This happened just a couple days before Christmas, not that it mattered to me but the news got wind of me being fired for only trying to protect myself and the store’s merchandise.  And right before Christmas too.

Well I guess it was picked up by the national news outlets and as they now say ‘it went viral’.  Luckily they did not have much of a picture of me but that apparently did not stop them.  A few days into the New Year there was a knock on the door to my apartment and when I opened it I could see a couple of cameramen and what I guess was a reporter.

“Are you Benjamin Anderson?”

“Yes.  What do you want?”

“Well after you lost your job for just trying to protect yourself right before Christmas there was some money raised by regular people that just wanted to help you.  The amount raised is now well over ten thousand dollars.   We just wanted to get your comments on getting all that money.”

“I have no comments as I will not accept any money that I did not work for.  I never asked for any kind of donations on my behalf.  I would only ask that any money raised be returned to the nice people who wanted to help.  If the money can not be returned then I would appreciate it if it could just be given to the Red Cross or the local churches.  Thank you.  Good bye.”

“Wait Mister Anderson don’t you want the money?”

“I thought I made myself clear.  No I will not accept that money.  I knew nothing about it or I would have tried to stop it sooner.  Like I said return it or give it to the Red Cross or the local churches.  Thank you.  Good bye.”

“Wait Mister Anderson don’t you need that money?”

“I’m sure I will get another job soon.  Thank you for inquiring about my welfare.  Good bye.  And no you do not have my permission to show any film or audio of this encounter.  Good day.”

I closed the door and hoped that was the end of it.  I do not know how they got my name and address.  Maybe they got a copy of the police report or maybe they got the information from my now previous employer.  I don’t really know.  If it was either of those two entities then I do not appreciate that they gave out my personal information.  I suppose it is possible that the police might not have had a legal means to hide my information.  I just don’t know.  No matter what I do not like it.  And I do not like that money was raised on my behalf and that I knew nothing about it.  It is certainly not fair to those that donated that money to me in good faith think I had asked for it when in fact I did not.  And that I will not accept it.  But if it goes to one or all of the organizations that I suggested then I suppose the money will eventually help someone who really is in need.  That person is just not me.  So those that did donate the money will be helping someone who deserves it.