Chapter 17 - Arthur loses his job
The school completed its review.
Arthur was not fired because of one private family incident alone.
The institution considered:
The criminal charge.
His public-facing role.
Two previous workplace aggression complaints.
A third complaint discovered during review from an events coordinator who said Arthur had punched a wall backstage after a donor canceled.
No one injured.
Previously treated informally.
The school offered resignation rather than termination after negotiations.
Arthur accepted.
He lost:
Position.
Salary.
Institutional status.
Not his entire life.
Some relatives blamed me.
I had done nothing to cause the workplace complaints.
Arthur had.
He said later:
“I kept thinking you got me fired.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
He stared at the table.
“I got away with being difficult because I raised money.”
There.
“And then when the criminal case happened, the old things changed meaning.”
Exactly.
Patterns are often invisible until one undeniable act supplies the organizing fact.
He later found consulting work.
Less status.
Lower salary.
May you like
Not unemployable.
Consequences did not require eternal ruin.
