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Hey! This is the first post to be in Leo POV. I'm not posting anything big. just enough to try to keep you from hating me and to try out the new point of view.
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My first day had been... good? Well, it had been work. Hank never frendlied up and I was grateful for the no-nonsense direction. It was just a job. I needed the money. I just wished that I could bypass the human interaction to get it.
Sadly, the job required some training before I even handled a saw. So, that meant my little lessons with Hank would continue for a while. I just wanted to do my job and get out of there. I just wanted to be back at my lonely little camp. I didn't necessarily like it here but I felt secluded which was as much as I was asking for.
I shoved down another charred hot dog without tasting it. Hot dogs and more hot dogs. I felt like it was all I'd eaten. Ever. But, I only knew how to cook so much over a fire.
After work, Abel had strode over and invited me out to Larry's in what I figured was a "new guy" gesture. Yeah Right. Like I'd be going anywhere near that place. Though I had needed a drink pretty bad.
I popped the tab of my Bud light and gave a dry chuckle at my fake ID tucked away in my wallet. I leaned back against the tree and rubbed my back over the rough bark. My eyes fluttered closed. Tomorrow was Saturday. I raised the can to toast. Happy weekend.
I took a long gulp and rubbed my eye with the heal of my palm. I opened my eyes and looked down my nose at the wing spread out on the needle covered ground beside me. I lazily fingered the feathery tips.
Showing posts with label job. Show all posts
Showing posts with label job. Show all posts
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Ch. 2: Part 1
“You lookin for someone?” came a gruff voice from behind him. Leo spun.
“Um, yes. Who’s in charge? I mean, like, who’s your boss?” He was so out of his element.
“What do you want, kid?”
“I’m looking for work. You guys need any help around here?”
“Get lost, kid.” He obviously wasn’t getting anywhere.
It was an unusually bright sunny day. Leo had walked on the site of the nearest logging project, wandering like an idiot, having really no idea who to talk to. He stumbled out of the way of a truck hauling away a pile of timber from being loaded and into the path of a rather large man bent over a clipboard. He accidentally knocked the clipboard from the man’s hands.
“Watch it!” the man spat. Leo stepped back as the worker crouched to pick it up. When he straitened, the man’s eyes found the face of his disturbance.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” It seemed their little scuff hadn’t put Mr. Clipboard in a great mood.
Ok, it was time to buck up. He wasn’t going to get anywhere if he didn’t make himself known. He would act professional. Like he knew what he was talking about.
“Hello, sir. I was thinking that I might be able to find some work with you. I work hard and I don’t need much. This seems like a good working experience.” Like he knew what he was talking about; not like he was a pushover.
“I don’t think we need anyone right now.”
“Uh, okay. Thanks.” What was he doing? He was getting frustrated. He couldn’t even take himself seriously.
His brow pulled down over his eyes and he let out an exasperated sigh. This was stupid. He took his hands out of his pockets and left them tensed at his sides. He walked directly up to a logger discussing something with a co-worker.
“Who’s in charge?” it came out harsher than he meant it.
“The site manager’s in there.” But it did the trick. The worker pointed to a white trailer. Leo nodded once and headed in the direction of the trailer. He gave two sharp raps on the aluminum door.
“Come in.” came a call from inside. The manager looked up and raised an eyebrow as Leo opened the door. Leo nodded a greeting.
“I’m looking for work and I’d like a job.” His eyebrow hitched further.
“Do you have any experience with logging?”
“No. but I learn fast.”
“What hours would you be able to work?”
“Any time you want me.”
“It’s hard labor.”
“I’m a hard worker.” The manager let go of the papers he’d been fingering when Leo walked in and turned his body to face him.
“How old are you?” He asked as he crossed his arms. Leo hesitated.
“Seventeen.”
“You’re not from around here.” He hadn’t said it like a question.
“No.” The manager dropped his arms.
“Fair enough.” He finally let his eyebrow down. “Show up here tomorrow morning at 6:30. I might have something for you.” He reached out his hand. “Jonah Gooding.”
“Leo Kosky.” Leo took it and gave it a firm shake. Jonah smiled. Leo nodded once more on his way out.
As he left the site a small smile of accomplishment turned up the corners of his mouth. He put his hands back in his pockets. Clouds started to block out the sun.
He couldn’t afford to be discovered. He’d seen some workers wearing coats, though not all of them. He could get by. He’d work on keeping his wings in tight and hoped no one noticed two feathery appendages coming out of his back.
He followed the dirt road back to the blacktop. He didn’t mind walking. He had so much more energy since he’d received his sick joke from Mother Nature. This made him wonder. A lot of things made him wonder. His reflexes were sharper, his hearing more sensitive. His body was all together more resilient. His stomach rumbled. That was another thing. Why was he always starving? He had gotten used to his complaining stomach. It wasn’t that hard to ignore anymore. He couldn’t exactly splurge on a couple pounds of beef whenever cravings kicked in.
The wind gently ruffled the trees on either side of the road. It was very quiet here. Even on the highway there was hardly ever so much as a lone semi. He felt very alone here. But it was welcomed. He didn’t really feel like sharing his thoughts right now. At least his expenses were taken care of for the moment. It seemed such an insignificant area to have covered. He had so many things to nail down. But that’s how he had to do this. Just think about one thing at a time.
He heard the car coming up behind long before it reached him. At least he had felt alone.
“Hey, there.” A shabby, muted red two-door coasted slowly beside him. The girl from the pawn shop was leaning across the passenger side looking up at him, glancing out at the road in front of her periodically. As if there was ever any kind of traffic she needed to worry about. He gave her a quick glance as he kept walking.
“Hi.”
“Whatcha doin’ out here?” She asked and then without waiting for an answer “You want a ride?”
“I like walking.”
“Ya sure?” He looked down at her again and saw her squinting up at him through the light of the setting sun. She gave a friendly half-smile. He returned his eyes to the road. Maybe he was being rude.
“Uh, sure.” He stopped his stroll. She straightened back up to make way for him. He hesitated. Would she be able to see anything? Were they, his wings, very noticeable? He suddenly felt uncomfortable about being in such a tight space with someone else. The car idled beside him. She leaned over again.
“Are you coming?”
“Uh, yeah. Sorry.” He said as he shook his head to clear it. He opened the door and ducked his head as he lowered himself in. She raised an eyebrow and smirked at him. He gave a weak smile. He stared at the floor board and tightened his wings against him, crushing them into the back of the seat.
The car lurched forward as she pressed the pedal down then screeched to a stop. She sighed. She pumped the acceleration and they jerked forward a couple times, the engine revving loudly in protest.
“Damn this car.” She cursed under her breath. Leo’s awkwardness intensified. His hands clenched in his coat pockets. She gave the pedal a few more pumps and they finally started consistently down the highway. Her face was hard and she was hunched a bit over the steering wheel in irritation. He shifted in his seat. She turned her head to see his uncomfortable expression and gave a loud laugh.
“Sorry.” Her shoulders relaxed and she slammed back into her seat, chuckling, her arms out straight in front of her grasping the steering wheel. “I guess I need a new car. Huh?” Leo’s mouth turned into a shy grin. Her eyes smiled at him. He was caught off guard. He’d never noticed how pretty her eyes were before. They were a greenish-tan around the center that faded into a light blue toward the edge. His smile widened into a more earnest one. He leaned his head back against the head rest.
“Um, yes. Who’s in charge? I mean, like, who’s your boss?” He was so out of his element.
“What do you want, kid?”
“I’m looking for work. You guys need any help around here?”
“Get lost, kid.” He obviously wasn’t getting anywhere.
It was an unusually bright sunny day. Leo had walked on the site of the nearest logging project, wandering like an idiot, having really no idea who to talk to. He stumbled out of the way of a truck hauling away a pile of timber from being loaded and into the path of a rather large man bent over a clipboard. He accidentally knocked the clipboard from the man’s hands.
“Watch it!” the man spat. Leo stepped back as the worker crouched to pick it up. When he straitened, the man’s eyes found the face of his disturbance.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” It seemed their little scuff hadn’t put Mr. Clipboard in a great mood.
Ok, it was time to buck up. He wasn’t going to get anywhere if he didn’t make himself known. He would act professional. Like he knew what he was talking about.
“Hello, sir. I was thinking that I might be able to find some work with you. I work hard and I don’t need much. This seems like a good working experience.” Like he knew what he was talking about; not like he was a pushover.
“I don’t think we need anyone right now.”
“Uh, okay. Thanks.” What was he doing? He was getting frustrated. He couldn’t even take himself seriously.
His brow pulled down over his eyes and he let out an exasperated sigh. This was stupid. He took his hands out of his pockets and left them tensed at his sides. He walked directly up to a logger discussing something with a co-worker.
“Who’s in charge?” it came out harsher than he meant it.
“The site manager’s in there.” But it did the trick. The worker pointed to a white trailer. Leo nodded once and headed in the direction of the trailer. He gave two sharp raps on the aluminum door.
“Come in.” came a call from inside. The manager looked up and raised an eyebrow as Leo opened the door. Leo nodded a greeting.
“I’m looking for work and I’d like a job.” His eyebrow hitched further.
“Do you have any experience with logging?”
“No. but I learn fast.”
“What hours would you be able to work?”
“Any time you want me.”
“It’s hard labor.”
“I’m a hard worker.” The manager let go of the papers he’d been fingering when Leo walked in and turned his body to face him.
“How old are you?” He asked as he crossed his arms. Leo hesitated.
“Seventeen.”
“You’re not from around here.” He hadn’t said it like a question.
“No.” The manager dropped his arms.
“Fair enough.” He finally let his eyebrow down. “Show up here tomorrow morning at 6:30. I might have something for you.” He reached out his hand. “Jonah Gooding.”
“Leo Kosky.” Leo took it and gave it a firm shake. Jonah smiled. Leo nodded once more on his way out.
As he left the site a small smile of accomplishment turned up the corners of his mouth. He put his hands back in his pockets. Clouds started to block out the sun.
He couldn’t afford to be discovered. He’d seen some workers wearing coats, though not all of them. He could get by. He’d work on keeping his wings in tight and hoped no one noticed two feathery appendages coming out of his back.
He followed the dirt road back to the blacktop. He didn’t mind walking. He had so much more energy since he’d received his sick joke from Mother Nature. This made him wonder. A lot of things made him wonder. His reflexes were sharper, his hearing more sensitive. His body was all together more resilient. His stomach rumbled. That was another thing. Why was he always starving? He had gotten used to his complaining stomach. It wasn’t that hard to ignore anymore. He couldn’t exactly splurge on a couple pounds of beef whenever cravings kicked in.
The wind gently ruffled the trees on either side of the road. It was very quiet here. Even on the highway there was hardly ever so much as a lone semi. He felt very alone here. But it was welcomed. He didn’t really feel like sharing his thoughts right now. At least his expenses were taken care of for the moment. It seemed such an insignificant area to have covered. He had so many things to nail down. But that’s how he had to do this. Just think about one thing at a time.
He heard the car coming up behind long before it reached him. At least he had felt alone.
“Hey, there.” A shabby, muted red two-door coasted slowly beside him. The girl from the pawn shop was leaning across the passenger side looking up at him, glancing out at the road in front of her periodically. As if there was ever any kind of traffic she needed to worry about. He gave her a quick glance as he kept walking.
“Hi.”
“Whatcha doin’ out here?” She asked and then without waiting for an answer “You want a ride?”
“I like walking.”
“Ya sure?” He looked down at her again and saw her squinting up at him through the light of the setting sun. She gave a friendly half-smile. He returned his eyes to the road. Maybe he was being rude.
“Uh, sure.” He stopped his stroll. She straightened back up to make way for him. He hesitated. Would she be able to see anything? Were they, his wings, very noticeable? He suddenly felt uncomfortable about being in such a tight space with someone else. The car idled beside him. She leaned over again.
“Are you coming?”
“Uh, yeah. Sorry.” He said as he shook his head to clear it. He opened the door and ducked his head as he lowered himself in. She raised an eyebrow and smirked at him. He gave a weak smile. He stared at the floor board and tightened his wings against him, crushing them into the back of the seat.
The car lurched forward as she pressed the pedal down then screeched to a stop. She sighed. She pumped the acceleration and they jerked forward a couple times, the engine revving loudly in protest.
“Damn this car.” She cursed under her breath. Leo’s awkwardness intensified. His hands clenched in his coat pockets. She gave the pedal a few more pumps and they finally started consistently down the highway. Her face was hard and she was hunched a bit over the steering wheel in irritation. He shifted in his seat. She turned her head to see his uncomfortable expression and gave a loud laugh.
“Sorry.” Her shoulders relaxed and she slammed back into her seat, chuckling, her arms out straight in front of her grasping the steering wheel. “I guess I need a new car. Huh?” Leo’s mouth turned into a shy grin. Her eyes smiled at him. He was caught off guard. He’d never noticed how pretty her eyes were before. They were a greenish-tan around the center that faded into a light blue toward the edge. His smile widened into a more earnest one. He leaned his head back against the head rest.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Ch. 1: Part 4
His lack of camping experience showed through as he fumbled with the tent. The convenience store had supplied him with meals for the next day or two.
He’d have to do something about his dwindling budget. Could he find some work? He wanted to mix with others as little as possible, but he didn’t really have a choice. He didn’t want to steal from these people. Besides the fact that theft in the small town would lay suspicion on any strangers, it just seemed wrong to hinder anyone else’s life for his own sake. Even to eat. Who was he? He was a freak. No, he wouldn’t do that to this town. They didn’t deserve it. He’d have to get work. But he didn’t want to add unwanted attention – which was any – to himself. The pawn shop knew about the camping gear and if he went around looking for a job in town, they would know about it. He doubted they would react positively to a stranger living in the woods somewhere. It had to be someone’s land. Probably logging property. Maybe that was an option. He didn’t exactly know the qualifications for lumberjacks or whatever they were called, but maybe he could do something.
He’d made a fire rather easily. He and his friends back home used to set fire to stuff all the time. He shook his head. Maybe home wasn’t something he should be thinking about right now. It wasn’t home anymore.
He made himself comfortable on the ground beside the fire. Night had crept in slowly, dimming the sky til only the moon and the light of the fire told him his way around camp. He leaned back to look at the stars.
He hadn’t been flying since that first time. That had been stupid. Anyone could have seen him. He was a bit bigger than a bird. His wings ached to take flight. He left his shirt off while around camp and his wings were splayed over the ground on either side of him. But they yearned to be in motion. He brought them up and flapped once. The fire flickered spastically as the air blew across it. He sighed as he rotated his hotdog in the fire. Maybe if he went out far enough or went high enough, no one would spot him. He’d try another trip later.
After he’d shoved down six hotdogs, he put out the fire and crawled into his tent. He laid out on his stomach and snuggled into the sleeping bag. The one person tent was a little too small for his wings, so he couldn’t stretch them the way he wanted. They sloped lazily down his sides. He closed his eyes and listened to the wind rustle through the trees. He pulled in a deep breath and was asleep before his body let it out.
He’d have to do something about his dwindling budget. Could he find some work? He wanted to mix with others as little as possible, but he didn’t really have a choice. He didn’t want to steal from these people. Besides the fact that theft in the small town would lay suspicion on any strangers, it just seemed wrong to hinder anyone else’s life for his own sake. Even to eat. Who was he? He was a freak. No, he wouldn’t do that to this town. They didn’t deserve it. He’d have to get work. But he didn’t want to add unwanted attention – which was any – to himself. The pawn shop knew about the camping gear and if he went around looking for a job in town, they would know about it. He doubted they would react positively to a stranger living in the woods somewhere. It had to be someone’s land. Probably logging property. Maybe that was an option. He didn’t exactly know the qualifications for lumberjacks or whatever they were called, but maybe he could do something.
He’d made a fire rather easily. He and his friends back home used to set fire to stuff all the time. He shook his head. Maybe home wasn’t something he should be thinking about right now. It wasn’t home anymore.
He made himself comfortable on the ground beside the fire. Night had crept in slowly, dimming the sky til only the moon and the light of the fire told him his way around camp. He leaned back to look at the stars.
He hadn’t been flying since that first time. That had been stupid. Anyone could have seen him. He was a bit bigger than a bird. His wings ached to take flight. He left his shirt off while around camp and his wings were splayed over the ground on either side of him. But they yearned to be in motion. He brought them up and flapped once. The fire flickered spastically as the air blew across it. He sighed as he rotated his hotdog in the fire. Maybe if he went out far enough or went high enough, no one would spot him. He’d try another trip later.
After he’d shoved down six hotdogs, he put out the fire and crawled into his tent. He laid out on his stomach and snuggled into the sleeping bag. The one person tent was a little too small for his wings, so he couldn’t stretch them the way he wanted. They sloped lazily down his sides. He closed his eyes and listened to the wind rustle through the trees. He pulled in a deep breath and was asleep before his body let it out.
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