Unload

The smell of metal on metal. Worn out boxes and containers. Night air seeping into the hub. Dust on everything. The camaraderie of people from many backgrounds and situations. The hard working women and men doing a second job just for insurance for their family. The laughs in the feeder. The constant jokes. Jokes about your own race. The thought of a better life. The mid load break. A cookie or a pretzel for a quick energy boost. The constant lifting and bending. Picking up 125lb engine parts straight off the grates. Not thinking about that college class I was failing. Missing my girlfriend and the safety of our phone calls before I would leave for Hog Island. The boss man sending me to the full load that came in during peak shift. Men and women starting to get ready to catch the bus. A quick I will see you tomorrow. Life moving faster than a package through the system of belts. Being young enough to still have dreams but old enough to see many dreams dashed….relegated to the feeder unload. Thirty years ago….the best job I ever had…working for Brown.