Getting older is never easy, especially after the love of your life passes away. The pain of losing a spouse can feel overwhelming, leaving behind a sense of crushing loneliness.
When Bernard Thompson lost his wife, his job at the supermarket was the only thing that kept him going. It helped him stay connected with the world and kept those empty feelings at bay. Little did he know that someone was about to come along and completely change his world yet again.
Meet Bernard Thompson
Ninety-three-year-old Bernard Thompson was a proud Midwesterner. He had lived in Omaha, Nebraska for his whole life. Bernard had worked in agriculture as a younger man, but had got a job in a supermarket when he was 70 to supplement his pension and had been there ever since.
Bernard didn’t need much to be content—just a steady routine, hearty meals, and his favorite pair of sturdy boots—but a recent tragedy had left him reeling. He couldn’t have predicted that his life was about to be thrown into turmoil all over again.
Devastating Loss
Just after Bernard had turned 89, his wife Maggie had died from a stroke. They had been high school sweethearts, together for more than 70 years and Bernard felt utterly lost without her. Their only daughter Nancy lived far away in Australia and couldn’t stay for long after the funeral, leaving Bernard alone in the house.
Although he missed her every single day, he knew Maggie wouldn’t have wanted him to waste away in her absence so he kept on going, heading to work each day, keeping the house in order, and seeing friends. Little did he know, that was all about to change.
Working at 93 Years Old
The supermarket where Bernard worked was small and friendly with regulars who came in almost every day. After 23 years there, Bernard knew them all by name. He worked as a cashier, scanning groceries for eight hours a day.
He enjoyed the hustle and bustle of supermarket work and the variety of seeing what each customer had put in their basket that day. He was careful and diligent, never overcharging people and always making sure they got the best deal. Even though he was 93, he had no plans to retire. However, things weren’t always easy for Bernard.
Slowing Down
These days, Bernard was a little slower than he used to be. The supermarket had installed a new touchscreen scanning system and he hadn’t quite got to grips with it. His hands were shaky and sometimes he had to pass something two or three times across the scanner before it registered.
Bernard knew he sometimes slowed things down and he didn’t like feeling like a burden. He was determined to keep trying his best and show the young folks that there was life in him yet. He didn’t realize that his manager had very different ideas about what was best for him.
Beloved By All
Despite his slow pace of work, Bernard was the most beloved cashier in the supermarket and customers didn’t mind waiting a little longer to be served by him. He always offered a friendly greeting, remembered little details about each person, and enquired about their families.
He’d commend them on their choice of peaches or tomatoes, offer gardening tips, and always wave them off with a cheery smile. Being served by Bernard brightened everyone’s day, even if it took a little longer. However, an unexpected change was quietly brewing beneath the surface of this everyday cheer.
Spark of Joy
Bernard knew people enjoyed seeing him at the supermarket and since Maggie had passed away, it was the one spark of joy left in his life. It meant he got to have some human interaction which helped to alleviate his loneliness.
If he couldn’t go to work, he knew he would spend his days at home by himself, with only the television for company. Sure, he could meet some old buddies at a diner once a week or go to the senior center on Fridays, but it wasn’t the same as working at the supermarket and being a valued member of society. He hoped he could continue working until he finally joined Maggie. But one day was about to change everything.
No Regular Morning
One cold morning, Bernard got ready for work as usual. He combed his hair with water and put on a sweater and slacks and then proudly pinned his name badge to his chest. Maggie had always liked him to look smart and he wasn’t about to let her down even though she wasn’t here to check he was presentable.
He walked the three blocks to the supermarket, nodding at the locals he recognized as customers as he went. It was a regular morning just like any other, at least that’s what Bernard thought.
The Manager’s Office
However, once Bernard arrived at the supermarket and was about to punch in with his timecard, his manager approached him. Relatively new to the job, the manager of the supermarket was a man in his thirties called Andy Abrams who had a lot of ideas about how to modernize the supermarket.
Bernard tried hard to get along with him, but he worried that Andy saw him as a deadweight. “Could you come and see me in my office once you’ve hung your coat up, Mr. Thompson?” Andy asked in a falsely cheery voice. Bernard could see he looked nervous beneath his smile.
Filled With Dread
Bernard headed to the staff cloakroom, his heart filled with dread. He had never been called into the manager’s office before and he couldn’t imagine it could be for any good reason. He’d tried hard to speed things up whenever Andy was watching him, but he knew the young man had noticed his shaky hands and struggle to master the new system.
He trudged towards the office, his heart pounding. Perhaps Andy was going to give him a telling-off. He didn’t dare think about the other possibility.
Bad News
“Come in and sit down, Mr. Thompson,” Andy said after Bernard knocked timidly on the door. Bernard did as he was told, still feeling very nervous. “Right, let’s get straight into it then. As you know, I’ve been doing my best to make the supermarket more profitable and as such, I’m having to make some budget cuts,” he began.
“You are well over the usual age of retirement at this workplace and I feel it’s my job to make sure you enjoy your golden years, Mr. Thompson. We’ve decided to let you go, I hope you understand the decision,” he finished somberly. His words were like a knife to the heart.
Walk of Shame
Bernard tried to protest, even offering to work for free, but Andy was firm, insisting that he was only doing what was best for Bernard and what was best for the store. Bernard left the office, his heart heavy.
He walked through the store, feeling his colleagues’ pitying glances piercing him. There were a few colleagues who even had a twinkle in their eyes, as though gleeful to see him sunk so low. Even his friend Lou seemed to be suppressing a smile. He’d never felt so ashamed in all his life.
Real Reason for Being Fired
Andy had offered for Bernard to stay for the rest of the day, but he couldn’t bear to be there a moment longer. He had called the supermarket home for almost 25 years and now he was being unceremoniously let go because of “budget cuts”. He knew the real reason was his age and Andy just didn’t want to admit it.
The three blocks to his home which earlier had felt like a breeze now felt like a marathon. When people waved or nodded to him this time, he hung his head. He knew that all that awaited him at home was loneliness.
Feeling Devastated
Once home, Bernard sank creakily into his chair and let out a deep sigh. He was embarrassed at how devastated he felt inside. He was a farming man—how could a silly job in a supermarket have meant so much to him? But it had been so much more than a job.
He picked up the phone to call his friend and then put it down again. He didn’t want anyone to see him while he was in such a state. He sat in the chair for hours, not even getting up to fix some food or close the curtains when night started to fall.
No Meaning
Gradually, Bernard became overwhelmed by a deep sense of emptiness. The only sound was the low hum of the refrigerator, a lonely reminder of the quiet that had replaced the warmth and laughter Maggie used to bring. He stared at the TV, its flickering light barely comforting against the hollow feeling inside him.
The ticking clock seemed to highlight his stillness, making the house feel even colder and emptier. Bernard struggled to find any purpose in the silence that enveloped him—without his work and without Maggie, who was he? What was he going to do now?
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