What happened to you on the day you were fired from your last job?

The woman’s shelter had a trickle of residents. It was a gorgeous mansion on a woodsy street. She preferred the place mostly empty - except for daily incoming donations.

I’d previously been the Children’s Activities Coordinator at a shelter less than a hour away. It was well-run with good people. We’d called this place dozens of times when we had overflow. Every time this woman was the contact she said they were just filled up. Being on the inside I saw her intake protocols had red flags the other shelter didn’t.

I realized within weeks she was a dangerous and manipulative person. The scent of alcohol unmistakable. My constant questions and new ideas made me her target. I could see what was coming. I grew up with this kind. She even had her own daughter who wouldn’t speak to her.

So I recorded her. Her reckless driving, stomping into work, creating an ambiance of fear. I caught several instances of her being abusive to the staff. She accused me of stealing. I got that on tape too, along with it being discovered I hadn’t stolen a thing.

I reported all this anonymously to the shelter system. I went above her immediate supervisor because I was told they were buddies, dividing the spoils.

I was supposed to be making art with traumatized kids. She had me - a pregnant woman - walking over a mile in an icy Vermont winter, begging door-to-door for donations - FOR A WOMAN’S SHELTER.

The following week I planned to quit. Upon arrival she informed me I was fired for being Angry.

She told someone with Female Asperger’s they can’t work with autistic kids.

I was psyched - I got severance when I was ready to just bail. I managed to take a bag of kid’s books from her pilfer stash. An ex-employee told me she’d handpick donations. Then re-sell items after the holidays. I gave them away.

I later learned she was fired. A far more suitable employee took over the shelter. I hope everything changed and now they’re really helping women and their children as best they can.