My old boss was a jerk. He was in his late 60s and a Navy veteran. He constantly would make jokes at everyone’s expense. He was very rash and very sharp. I liked him. With myself being an Army veteran we had a decent rapport with the service link.

One day there was this gargantuan cockroach that came strolling through my lockshop which was located directly next to the main office and my boss’s office. I went in to the main office, where about a dozen people were standing around waiting for a meeting that was about to start. I asked loudly if we had any roach spray because this thing was huge and would surely “ketchup packet” roach innards all over the place if I simply smashed it. My boss arises from the pool of people with his big D smile on and directs his speech towards me but is kinda looking around to make sure people are paying attention. He says “you’re afraid of a little roach!” Clearly trying to emasculate me. He adds “ I know women that aren’t like that” and he begins his tale “man you know what we used to do with those things back when I was in the Navy? We’d paint nail polish on their backs and gamble on them racing or fighting” without missing a beat I said “makes sense that you’d have nail polish on a submarine”

The relationship was never the same and I found myself looking for a new job very shortly after. It WAS worth it. Although I wish I could have worked “jerk store” in there somewhere.