Arborwood Press

Working on the green-chain
From Incessant Expectations,
New Novel by Kenneth Fenter
     In Incessant Expectations, Jim Howard's first job in Oregon is working on the green-chain at the Elk Creek Mill. It is Jim's first job working for wages and working with a crew. 
     On the farm he is used to being his own boss working alone and at his own pace. He is not a big man, but he is strong, used to working long grueling hours under brutal conditions in the high altitude in Colorado.
     He is also used to being around people he can trust.
     The first day on the job he learns that he is in a new world where he needs to trust only himself. The next morning with hands that are nearly ruined by ill fitting gloves furnished by his crew foreman, and an aching back, he sits down to breakfast at the Lumberman's Cafe.

He went next door to the Lumberjack Café, which advertised that it fixed lunches for hungry lumbermen. He had breakfast, bought sandwiches and had his thermos filled. His blistered hands brought a look of sympathy from the waitress, a pretty young girl either still in, or fresh out, of high school.

“Just start working at the mill?” she asked looking at his hands.

“Yesterday,” he said blushing when she saw him wince when he picked up his coffee cup.

“Don’t tell me you used the gloves they furnished,” she said.

“They didn’t fit very well. I stopped at the feed store last night and bought my own pair.”

“Wish you had stopped here before you started working there. I could have warned you,” she said.

“I wish I had, too. But, I should have known better,” Jim said quietly. “When I was little, my mother would have called it natural consequences.”

“Watch those guys, they can be pretty ornery on the new guys,” she said seriously. “That pile of gloves has been pulled on more than one unsuspecting newcomer to mill work.”

“My mistake, but I’ll live,” Jim said and grinned at her.

“I’ve lived around these guys all my life. They can make your life miserable, if they choose to. Or, if you choose to become one of the good ole boys, you can have a lot of fun with them, assuming you enjoy their definition of fun.”

She held his eyes a moment longer, “You planning to stand up to them?”

“Will I need to?”

“You may have to. They shouldn’t have pulled the gloves shit on you. They knew what it would do to your hands. That’s crap. Look at them. The foreman sized you up as soon as he laid eyes on you and decided you couldn’t pull your own weight. He had gloves that would fit you. Your hands wouldn’t look like that this morning!” she said.

Jim looked up at her, surprised at her anger.

“As I said, I can take care of myself.”

She lowered her eyes, “I’ll bet you can. But, just be careful.”

“I won’t fight them,” Jim said.

“If you try, they will make mash out of you,” she said sadly.

“You have a history with these guys?” he asked. “This really makes you mad.”

“My dad tangled with them a long time ago. Long story.”

“I’m sorry,” Jim said.

“Just be careful. Promise me.”

Incessant Expectations by Kenneth Fenter available at Amazon.com or autographed copies direct from arborwoodpress.com