I almost died five days ago. I had my usual ear protection on, when around the corner came the larger of the six forklifts at full speed. I didn’t actually see it coming, but out of the corner of my eye I saw it stop; its long lifting forks only a foot away from my flesh covered ankles. On my second day, one of the The Twins told me about the most recent injury at the plant, which involved a forklift, a pair of ankles, and buckets of blood.
I’m actually done working at the plant as of the writing of this. On my final day, my supervisor kept making the same joke as he passed by me, asking whether I really wanted to leave, claiming he’d give me a 75 cent raise. For a brief moment I considered it as a possibility. But for only a brief moment. I generally think my experience at the plant was worth it. I had always wondered whether I could do the same menial task for eight hours straight, and now I know: I can. I don’t whether I could last longer than the two and half months I put in, or if a lifelong sentence there would be too much to handle.
Apu - I understand the racial implications of this name, but it is solely for the purpose of classifying this individual with an exactness any other name could not possess. He looks Spanish, and was probably the most jolly and likable fellow I had a chance to meet, but his voice was as stereotypically Indian as they come. A loud HAYLLOOO! started our every conversation. He said “yes” like “yays” and “thirty” like “therdy,” but each mispronunciation sounded like a deliberate attempt to mock Indian mannerisms and sounds.
The MILF - In reality, I don’t think she has any kids. She holds the title on age and appearance alone. Wearing low cut shirts and tight jeans, she can pretty much do whatever she wants. In the kingdom of unattractive women, the least unattractive is queen. Because of this, she also has to take a lot of sexual harassment. Discussions of cup size or dirty jokes were the norm when she entered the area (To be fair, with good reason. She was well-endowed.) and when she left they only escalated. Her personality is loud and boisterous, which fits since when she leaves the plant she proceeds to her second job as a small town bartender, something I have an easier time imagining her doing.
The Centuries - Every employee there is ready to leave. At least they vocalize that point whenever they can. Unfortunately, most of the people are stuck there. And some, are stuck there well beyond a retirement age. There are two 79 year-old men who work there, as well as an 81 year-old. They shuffle, slower than slow, holding onto the wall for support to get from their machine to the break room. It’s a depressing scene to witness, realizing they have been making the same motions for far longer than you’ve even been breathing. They mumble and swear as they pull containers from the huge machines, they’ve seen replaced and maintained for decades. They make promises they shouldn’t keep with their imagined lottery winnings: “If I win, I’ll buy everyone in this factory a fucking car,” knowing full well their chances are the same as they were fifty years earlier.
August 18, 2009, 3:53pm
