larry@stinescorner
Well-known Member
I have been reading a lot of posts from a young man here on t talk. He is 16,and for 16,sure seems to be hard working and enthusiastic. I dont say too much to make controversy,but what came into my mind was the last young man I worked with, He was 18,almost 19 years old,. My boss at the time knew I was brought up as a hard worker and thought maybe I could teach the young man something. The first day,my assigment was to bring the dump truck and compressor to work on a storm drain that needed repair. It involves cutting the blacktop with a jackhammer to remove the grate and casting. I Had the compreesor hooked to the truck,tools and supplys loaded,ready to go,,,,now I have to wait for this young man,,he is late. Now we leave the yard,,,driving in the town with a dumptruck,towing a compressor.Young man says,,,I need cigaretes,can we stop? He didnt like when I Said no,he said he will be jonesing?with out smokes,he said,well Ill call my dad ,he will drop some smokes off for me. Now we get to the job,the boss said,dont let him run the jackhammer yet,ao I Did that,he was big and strong so he did help me lift the grate and casting,but he wore a black shirt,and it was getting very hot that summer,he is sweating like a pig. I Said first lesson,wear white or light colors ,not black in the hot sun,now hes thirsty,second lesson bring a jug of water,like the old man did,here have some of mine....now the catch basin was full of gravel from over the years,we have to clean it out before we repair it.He says cant we just fix the top and cover it up,no none will know....no,,we dont do work like that,,,,,he starts to shovel out some gravel,starts sweating,,,says ,,,and I quote him,,,,,Im sorry,,,but I Physically cant do it,I feel like Im gonna have a heart attack....so,,,I Cleaned out the catch basin. Now its time to mix some cement,,,we used the sand cement mix,so it takes exactly the same amount of water for each mix. Showed him how much in a bucket,,turn around he dumps in more water to make it easier to mix with the hoe. Now I Have to stop what Im Doing ,add more dry and fix the mix.You might say the first time no problem,,,but he did it for 4 different mixes?The next day,,,,he was late again,,,,black shirt,,,no water jug,,,,same deal with mixing cement,,,,,,He SAID i m tired today,I Was up all night on the coputer playing war games.....This is a true story,,,,,,sure wish a young man like Bryce was with me that summer to work,