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1928 - Alderson High School - 1968 |
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Brutal Summer Job |
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ONCE
IN A DIM AND DISTANCE PAST AS AN ALDERSON YOUTH ,I WAS APPROACHED BY
ANOTHER EVEN MORE YOUTHFUL PERSON WHO HAD A CAR . THIS INDIVIDUAL TOLD
ME WE COULD GET A JOB AT 1.25 PER HOUR CUTTING RIGHT AWAY EAST OF WHITE
SULPHUR ON THE VIRGINIA LINE. IT WAS EARLY SUMMER ABOUT 5 OR 6 OF US GOT
A JOB CUTTING RIGHT AWAY. MONDAY WE DROVE TO THE WORK SITE, WE WERE
GIVEN PICK AXES AND TOLD TO START CUTTING. WE WERE TOLD WE WERE TO WORK
STRAIGHT THROUGH NO BREAKS. SHOULD WE BE BY CHANCE BE BITTEN BY A
COPPERHEAD OR A RATTLER WE WOULD BE TREATED OR TAKEN SOMEWHERE . ANYWAY
I STARTED SWINGING THAT AX AND NEVER TOPPED SWINGING .ONCE I STOPPED TO
PUT A CHEW OF TOBACCO IN AND MY STRAW BOSS ,A GUY NAMED STEVEN THE HILL
ACROSS FROM ME WENT BERSERK. HE SCREAMED AS HE CHARGED DOWN THE HILL
WITH REAL ANGER, HATE IN HIS VOICE AND EYES. I BEGAN TO SWING TO SWING
THAT AX WITH REAL ZEAL AND YELLED BACK I WAS JUST GETTING A CHEW. THIS
SEEMED TO SATISFY HIS RAGE BUT STEVE WARNED ME NEVER TO BE SO LAX AGAIN.
THE THREAT OF SNAKE BITE AND EXHAUSTION WERE ALWAYS COMPANIONS IN
THIS JOB . AFTER A WEEK LEROY'S CAR GAVE OUT SO MY EXPERIENCE WITH
FREEWAY CONSTRUCTION ENDED. I WILL SAY GROWING UP IN ALDERSON WAS ONE
GREAT ADVENTURE. BRUTAL JOB , GREAT YOUTH
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