I took a job in a supermarket after my company downsized. I wasn't happy to be doing it at 42 but I was genuinely desperate. My girlfriend was working too, and it just wasn't enough. If we missed any more rent payments I'd be out of my apartment.
Even worse than taking a shit job was the selection of 20-something supervisors I now had, all of whom enjoyed making my life a living hell. The worst of them all was Darren, a 20 year old jerk who ran his shifts like a dictator. I just thought he was a nerd who played too many video games. Well, he was, but he had a hell of a mean streak too.
Darren loved pushing around the older employees, and because he was related to the owner, he got away with it. He would often give us the worst jobs, and he would always harass the women staff to go on a date.
After being pushed around for weeks I finally snapped one day. On this shift Darren had made me clear the parking lot of shopping carts in the pouring rain, clean the toilets and mop up two spills.
After he told me to clean up a spill he himself had caused, I charged into the back office and told him to fuck off. I instantly regretted it and he lost his shit.
"What did you say, faggot?" he asked me, pushing me against the door. Darren was surprisingly strong for a skinny geeky kid.
"You're deliberately making this job miserable, Darren. We're sick of it," I said.
"You just can't handle authority from someone twenty years younger than you," he smirked. "If you can't cope you may have to go."
"I can cope with anything," I said, "Just not overbearing shits with inflated self importance."
"You forget that I'm your boss, Tom. I can fire your ass right here and now if I want. Is your stupid pride more important than your paycheck?" Darren said surprisingly calmly. I admit that shut me up. I looked at the floor.
"Yeah, I thought so," he said. "You're just a pathetic loser who needs this job don't you? Answer me!" he said loudly into my face. I nodded.
"I don't need this shit job, you do, and I'm your goddamn boss," Darren laughed. "Such a fucking loser. You do what I say from now on, do you hear me?"