Labor Stories

There're crawly things down there. Damp and dusty and moldy. Has to be done. Maybe a drain needs to be snaked out. Costs a lot. Maybe you're the only one can crawl through. Someone has to do it. Once, long ago, your dad was too old and you did the job. The last time you were older than your dad had been. But, still, you're doing the work. Doing dirty jobs that need to be done. Some have never had dirty hands. Not literall...

Give us this dayOur daily breadGive us this dayFor we, the nearly deadGive us this dayThe under-appreciated massesGive us this dayFor hard hats and safety glassesGive us this dayWho rise to catch the day's first busGive us this dayChasing notes that read, "In God We Trust" Give us this dayThat teach us well, the teachersGive us this dayThat forgive us all, the preachersGive up this dayFor the smile on the face of the lunc...

Nothing in my experiences was anything as brutal as this. Back and forth all day I had to carry four buckets that weighed at least a ton each, filled with luminous sapphire blue water. If that wasn’t enough staying close to Fei was very difficult; she lifted them all up like they were nothing but a stack of pillows, then zoomed off like a race car. Although it pretty much was a life or death matter. Solarite guards patrol...