New Beginnings

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

Aaron hit the snooze button. He laid there wondering inside a dream. The dream was about him sitting down and writing stories. He was in an argument with someone about the wording, but then the alarm clock went off again. He woke up, looked at the clock. It was time to get up. He sat there on the edge of the bed trying to remember his dream. He remembered the last part about the wording but didn’t remember what the story was about. He got up and started to get ready for work.

After he got ready for work, he had some time to drink his coffee and scroll through his social media profiles. He saw a clip from the movie, “Straight Outta Compton” which showed Ice Cube typing the movie script for ‘Friday.’ He always wanted to write a movie, but self-doubt would creep in his mind and deteriorate that idea, dream, or goal. He looked at his watch. It was time to go. He worked for a construction company that specialized in residential foundations.

The anxiety would scale up and down when he commuted to work. He been working for this employer for two and half years. He already had a confrontation with a few co-workers and the boss. The anxiety came when thoughts like getting into a fight or getting fired would come to mind.

His Grandma once told him, “Your grandpa would get fired for beating up the boss. Because the boss would yell or talk crap to him. He did not take shit from no one.” What he took from that, was take no shit from anybody.

He would talk crap to his coworkers as well. He figured it comes with the job, trash talking each other throughout the day. Sometimes the trash talking would turn into toxic criticism. He realized that what was said at work would affect his home life.

One day the boss had a safety meeting. He had a magazine about work harassment and job toxicity. He read a part about when there is high stress in workers they do not perform as well.

“This is why we all need another raise!” Aaron said out loud.

“If we get these done faster, the more money we will make.” The boss replied.

“Well, what we are doing standing around let’s get it done. Aaron said.

After a month, Aaron asked for a raise and the boss said one was coming soon. After another month went by, still no raise. Finally, the third month the employees all received a dollar raise.

One day Aaron arrived at work and some of his co-workers started talking about changing companies. They told Aaron that the company that offered them a job would give more pay, transportation, and better benefits, like health insurance etc. Aaron told them that if the pay is better than take the job offer. Eventually they did in the next couple weeks.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

After four years of the same routine for 5 days out of the week at the least, Aaron sat up. Bent his back because the pain was tremendous. He felt a dull pain for the last two years. He realized that he only has one back and in order keep doing this he figured he needed more money.

He started thinking about developing his writing skills to be a writer. The Ice Cube movie clip would replay in his mind on how to go about it. He grabbed a pen and some notebook paper. He started to write.

‘” Hey, Brittany how are you?” Karen asked.

“I am doing good how are you?” Brittany said as she was putting groceries in the back seat of her car.

“I am good. Hey, is your husband still working for that shit paying company?” Karen asked. She was standing by the back door as Brittany kept loading the groceries in the back seat.

“Yeah. I told him to go where John went but he said his back hurts so he might just change industries altogether.” Brittany told Karen as she finished up loading the groceries inside the car.”’

Aaron stopped writing on the notebook. He looked at the time. He could feel the pain in his lower back. It was sharp and harsh pain. He stood up and arched his back to relieve the soreness. He thought to himself, he needed to really change careers.

In the days of labor, Aaron would always think about the hard labor some people choose to do and why they were not paid more due to risk of physical injury and constant back pain. He decided to look it up online. What he came to find out about back pain is that the cost of therapy was high considering that most with chronic back pain were low-income individuals. At the same time chronic pain also caused opioid dependency. He asked his boss for vacation time which was granted.

While on vacation Aaron looked more into back pain as it started to worsen.

“I put in five years for this company and the appreciation isn’t there. I really need to start changing my line of work. I hurt my back for this company. I know the boss hates LNI claims. He even talks smack to the ones who have filed a claim and they still work for him.” Aaron said to one of his co-workers that got hurt on the job one day.

One day he was travelling to work with a coworker, and he said, “Man, look at all these people. Where you think most of them are going?”

His co-worker replied, “Probably going to work like us.”

“Yup, the rat race for the cheese.” Aaron said. There was a moment of silence. Aaron continued. “Everybody races to a job that barely pays, some have to work two jobs just to put food on the table and pay rent. At the same time, we send our kids to childcare and no matter what we are going through emotionally or personally we have to put on a fake smile and follow policies at work. A form of desensitizing us. Our home life is being desensitized and we prioritize work before family. This society got shit ass backwards in my opinion.” His coworker was looking at the window while Aaron was talking and said, “You right bro, this society is fucked, like why can’t we have a house for building foundations? Or at least get paid more money, but remember the boss said he barely make any money because he has to pay all of us.”

“That’s bullshit. You know he paid some money off our back, or he wouldn’t be in business.” Aaron said.

“Yeah, that is true, I mean that is what business is about no?

(He looked over at Aaron as he asked the question.)

Making money right.

(He looked forward.)

Maybe you need to start a business and hire people?

(He got up so he could grab something out of his pocket. It was a joint and a lighter. The joint was in a cigarette pack.)

Shit I would work for you. Ha-ha.

(He lit the joint.)

He took a hit and tried to pass it to Aaron but Aaron declines.

“Nah man not right now. Can’t promote smoking and driving right now.”

He looks over a sort of glance toward Bryan.

“If you know what I mean.”

“Got cha.” Bryan took a hit. He rolled down the window.

They arrived at work an hour late. The boss was there unloading material from the back of his pickup. Aaron and Bryan got out of the vehicle and opened the trunk to get their work bags.

“If your late you still got to work your eight.” The boss said.

“No problem they’re boss man.” Aaron said with a smile.

“You guys always showing up late, so I am going to push the start time back to 8.” The boss said.

“Sounds good. We the first one’s here?” Aaron asked the boss as he was looking around and didn’t see any leads.

“Yeah, you are, the others are at another job stripping a wall. They should be here this afternoon.” The boss said. He jumped out the back of his pickup. “I’ll be back to drop off more panels. This one is scheduled to pour tomorrow afternoon, so we need to get this done.” He grabbed a box of nails and packed them to the hole. Aaron grabbed a couple buckets off the tail gate of the pickup. They were full of metal cleats that hold the panels in place to form up a wall.

“Hey boss man.” Aaron said.

“Yeah.” The boss said. They were both standing before the hole. There was 2 by 8’s scattered along the string displaying the layout of the foundation of the home.

“You think I can take my two-week vacation next month? Aaron asked.

“What date?” The boss asked.

“The 18th.” Aaron said.

“Ok yeah, I’ll write it down.” The boss said. He turned around to walk away.

“And oh, you think I can get a raise as well?” Aaron asked.

The boss turned around and said, “We will see how you do with showing up on time until you go on vacation.”

“Ok, cool. Have a good day boss.” Aaron said as the boss turned back around and headed for his pickup.

“I’ll be back with panels and shoes to close up.” The boss said as he got into his pickup.

“Alright.” Aaron walked away back toward the hole.

Bryan started working on the footing as Aaron and the boss were talking. He was forming up the 2 by 8’s around lay out.

Later, after lunch the other guys showed up.

“Hey Aaron, what’s up Bitch.” Joe said out the back passenger window.

“Oh shit, look at these dirty fools.” Bryan said after he stood up straight to see who said that to Aaron.

“What up, your mama.” Aaron said. He was looking at Joe. Joe got out with the others they all grabbed their work bags and headed into the foundation layout.

“Yo, guess what? These guys are quitting in a couple weeks.” Joe said.

“For real? Where they going to a different company?” Aaron asked.

“Yup, going to be getting paid better and also get a work truck.” Joe said. They both start walking toward the work hole.

“Damn, you going with them too?” Aaron asked Joe.

“I talk to the other boss man today after work and see what up.” Joe said.

Aaron started tying rebar. They both start working. Then Aaron said, “Damn I might go to after you test it out first. See how the company is.”

Later that day Aaron got home and spoke to his girlfriend about what Joe said to him. He told her that he wanted to leave the company he worked for but didn’t want to work this type of work anymore. She told him to do what ever he feels is right.

That week, before some of his co-workers were leaving, Aaron got up every morning earlier than usual and started writing dialogue and story lines in a notebook. He just kept writing and writing in his notebooks. Then the week came his co-workers were leaving the company for another one. Aaron knew his vacation was coming up and would have time to think and plan on what he wanted to do.

One day, before he went on vacation, his co-workers pulled up to his job site and asked if he wanted to come for them. They told Aaron he would get paid more and shown more appreciation for his work. He told them he would think about it.

Aaron eventually went on vacation. He wrote and debated within himself on what he was going to do. His vacation was almost up, and the boss man texted him and told him where to be on the day he was to return. He messages back and told the boss, “Look, I am going to take another two weeks off to spend time with my family, and let my back heal up. And I want another two-dollar raise when I get back or I am going to put in my two-week notice.”

The boss text back, “As of now you no longer work for me.”