Before

  I blinked several times and ran my hands up over my face. And sighed. My boss had the good grace to look abashed.

  “I wish it didn’t have to be this way, Chris,” he said. It actually didn’t have to be this way. This was a choice being made by a guy I previously thought was pretty cool. I’d gamed with the guy and streamed that several times. He’d been a good teammate at the time. “I just… the customers are uncomfortable with your conduct. We need someone who’s going to greet folks with a smile and a ugh.”

  I stood, slowly, still blinking like I maybe expected the universe to be its actual self if I could just clear out the filmy stuff. Then, limping like I do and still attempting to blink the reality out, I shuffled out of the game store.

  This asshole would not see me cry.

  “I’ll get another job,” I muttered. “I’ll go save the universe somewhere.”

  For a guy with pretty bad scoliosis caused by osteomyelitis and further messed up by growth pte injuries from a bad childhood breakage, this was a pretty tall order. Save the universe? Superheroes need to be able to run and jump for that kind of activity. Christopher and running did not get along. Jumping was out of the question.

  On the other hand, I was going to get another job, and that job was for saving the universe. For now though, it was a painful and slow walk of shame out the door, not looking for a couple of extra pity points from my ex-boss. I didn’t need that, even though I did need a job.

  This is Christopher getting fired.

  ***