| back What I Learned About Two Middle-Aged Men in Less Than Five Minutes at a Hamburger Stand in Torrance. Man 1: “Joe?” Man 2: “Hey!” Average height. Plaid flannel shirt tucked into jeans. Cell phone on belt. Work boots. Hadn’t seen Man 1 in quite a while, “I thought I recognized you.” Man 1: Much taller. Stands almost 7 feet with a mop of brown hair. He is wearing a t-shirt with a bull on it and the words 25th Street Meat Shop. Works as a long shoreman in the LA Harbor. Went through hell for a few months before his time and salary stabilized. Now it’s fine. Pretty good, in fact, even though his mother is “wigging out.,” step brother has died and real brother is in jail. But on the bright side, his son is attempting to join the long shoremen work force. Man 2: Also has a teenage son, “My kid’s 18 now—at school in Arizona for Air Conditioning repair. DeAirs Institute.” Man 1: “I’ve heard of that school. That’s a good school.” Man 2: “Yeah, it’s tough. After he finishes he has to get a year’s worth of work experience before he can get certified.” Man 1: “A year! Damn. He can’t just go out and get a job?” Man 2: “Not if he wants to be union.” Small girl behind counter: “GUEST 20!” Man 2: “That’s me. Good to see you man. Take care.” Man 1: “You too. So long.” 1/6/00 |