Page 12 of Hide and Sneak
“Relax, the distribution center doesn’t test for weed. They’d have to fire everyone.” He starts looking through the cabinets for a snack and pulls out something I couldn’t resist buying. “Hey, I love this stuff. I haven’t had it for years.”
Lila looks back from the living room as he holds up the jar of marshmallow fluff. Her gaze leaps to me and she flips me off, heading for her room.
“What?” Amos asks, grinning at my laughter. “I don’t get it.”
Without answering him, I pull the tumbler out of the trash, put it in the dishwasher, and start the machine.
The road crew I’m on has been together for a few years. Our jobs rotate occasionally depending on the project at hand, but usually Jon operates the air blaster, blowing debris out of the cracks in the pavement. Camron and I follow behind the truck and fill them in with hot asphalt. Shawn, our oldest coworker at sixty-two, drives the truck. If we need flaggers for traffic control—which is most days—Miguel and Amy join us.
“Fuck me, I’m sweating like a cop at a pig roast,” Jon says, swiping a rag over his brow.
“We’re almost done. Maybe it’ll be an early day,” Camron replies.
“Yeah and maybe I’ll grow tits and become a stripper.”
“Shake them, baby. I’ll throw a dollar at you.”
It’s not a bad job despite Amos’s description of it, but we are at the mercy of the weather. Still, we often get rainy days off which is a bonus. Now that we’re heading into fall, it won’t be like working in the pits of hell much longer.
“Take your last fifteen then we’re heading over to the post office parking lot,” our foreman, Reggie announces. “Shouldn’t take more than two hours.”
Luckily, there are trees at the side of the road to provide some shade. We take the opportunity to cool down and chug some water. My phone buzzes with a text from my mother.
Mom
If you aren’t busy after work, can you come and jump start my car? I left my lights on and drained the battery.
Me
Sure thing. I can be there in a couple of hours.
Her husband must be on the road. It’s the only time she asks me for help.
Camron sits down next to me. “How’s it going with your place?”
“Too damn slow but it’s going. I have the land cleared. My shipping containers won’t be delivered for at least two months. Solar panels and stuff around the same time.”
He nods, swiping a mosquito off his arm. “Smart to be off grid.”
“It won’t be completely off grid. I’ll still be connected to city power and water as backup but it’ll definitely keep my bills down.”
His grin is all teeth. “Are you going to get you a tradwife, start keeping chickens and growing your own food?”
“Submissive women aren’t my thing and I don’t even know how to grow cheeseburgers.”
“Naya has been after me to repaint the upstairs rooms. If you want to give me a hand, I’ll help you with the fence.”
Camron and I started hanging out a few years ago, right after he got hired. He’s a jack of all trades and I’m always happy for his help. “Hell yes.”
“Alright! Let’s move our asses!” Reggie shouts, ending our conversation.
Any hope of clocking out early is lost the second we see the parking lot. It’s a mess. At least it’s an hour of overtime.
It’s finally cooling off by the time I get to Mom’s house and find her in the garden. She practically lives out there. Talk about a tradwife, that is exactly what her husband, Jim, wanted and she’s done her best to oblige. He’s a truck driver who doesn’t allow her to work. During the long stretches that he’s gone, she keeps herself busy with gardening, canning, knitting, baking. Which would be fine if she seemed to enjoy it at all.
“Is this heat killing your efforts?” I ask, startling her as she waters her plants.
An instant smile appears. “Not too bad. I’m getting everything harvested over the next couple of weeks, except the pumpkins.” She rubs a palm over her face. “There are too many this year. I’m going to have to give some away. Maybe to one of the schools.” She hands me her car keys, then accompanies me around to the front of her house where I’ve parked beside her car with my hood raised.
