I wake up from a normal 7 hours of sleep and quickly dress for the first day at work. I was called the previous night by a Mr. Martz, and he told me that I had the job if I still wanted it. I said yes, and he informed me that I was to report at the Continental Building at 8 pm. It is 7:51 now, and I was just stepping out the door toward my patiently waiting car.
Some how, I make it to the building on time. It had something to do with the multiple traffic violations I committed and would have received tickets for, if the random cop car would of been out there to witness. I walk up the steps and I'm greeted by Mr. Martz, on my way through the door. Martz shows me where to clock in and the break room and then proceeds to let me know what he wants done that night. "a Janitor" Martz said.
"Janitor huh. Alright where do I start?"
"Grab your cart and equipment from the closet." He points across from the fridge in the break room to a door.
"Then clean all bathrooms on each floor. Make sure the soap is filled, paper towels are there, mop the floors and take out the trash. There is a men's and a woman's bathroom on each floor. Once you finish that, come and find me.."
There were 3 floors, with no elevator. but yet they give me a cart. It made no sense why I would need a cart. As I went toward the exit door to make my way to the first bathroom, A loud man came in from the door behind me.
"THE HELL WITH THIS PLACE. TO HELL WITH YOU ALL. I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT YOU THINK, YOU ARE STILL WRONG. YOU'LL GET WHAT YOU DESERVE. YOU DESERVE TO GET YOUR ASS BEAT, AND I THINK I'M THE ONE THAT CAN DO IT."
The loud and apparent, angry, man could not of been any younger than 70 or at least he looked it. You could tell by looking at his face, he had been through some rough times in his life. He walked with a slit hunch and hobbled around like something was wrong with his left leg.
I glanced at Martz with a questionable look on my face.
"He's been working here for thirty five years. He's my best palletizer. He's an ass most of the time but he works hard."
As soon as he said the thirty five year part, I understood completely. Thirty five years of the same place takes a lot out of a man, shit, out of any man. I continued toward the closet door and grabbed the cart and mop bucket. Then I made my way to the first bathroom, which was the woman's, right outside the break room door. I checked the soap, the towels, the toilet paper, etc, and then mop the floors. I did a half ass job, leaving cigarette butts in the corners and stray pieces of paper were left behind on the ancient ground. This same, tedious thing happens to the men's restroom and takes, collectively, maybe thirty minutes.
I decide that its time to take a break. I head to the break room and take a seat next to the large window that over looks the rather small parking lot. I stare outside for a moment, looking at Martz pick trash and notice him as he walks toward his car. He reaches in and takes a sip from a bottle in a brown bag. This makes me smile. I grab a cup of coffee and head back to were my cart was, just outside the first set of bathrooms.
I grab a spot mop, wet it, and then head up the stairs toward the next set of restrooms. As I get to the top of the stairs, I hear someone coming from the other side. The door slams open and of course, its Nelson, the loud, old man from earlier that night.
"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, YOU LIL SHIT!"
This catches me off guard and I jump a bit.
"Fuck you old man!"
Nelson stops suddenly, just before his foot touches the first step that leads down to the first floor.
"WHAT THA HELL DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME, BOY?"
I stand there thinking; Is this the only way he talks?
"I said Fuck You. What are you going to do about it old man?"
As quick as I said the statement, he was coming towards me faster than fast. His limp had suddenly disappeared. He raises both of his hands and he begins to chock me. I attempt to pry his fingers apart but for an old man, he was surprisingly strong. As his grip slowly tightened, my face slowly reddened. Veins begin to pop out of my forehead and I can feel myself starting to black out. I only did it because I had to. I raised my right knee and hit him in his jelly babies. He fell to the floor like a Muslim would in time of prayer. I stand, slouched over with my hands on my knees, and catch my breath, then slowly turn toward the second floor door and open it. I step thru and when I look up, Martz is standing there looking at me.
"What the HELL is going on here?" Martz said.
"The old man came at me. He about chocked me to death."
"Jesus, Peacock, Give the old man a break. I told you he was my best worker."
I turn, grab my spot mop and head toward the next bathroom. As I walk away,
Nelson utters out, "I'LL GET YOU NEXT TIME, SIR."
Although I appreciated the respect factor, I didn't give a damn about that ball smashed, piece of shit.
I decide that its time to take a break. I head to the break room and take a seat next to the large window that over looks the rather small parking lot. I stare outside for a moment, looking at Martz pick trash and notice him as he walks toward his car. He reaches in and takes a sip from a bottle in a brown bag. This makes me smile. I grab a cup of coffee and head back to were my cart was, just outside the first set of bathrooms.
I grab a spot mop, wet it, and then head up the stairs toward the next set of restrooms. As I get to the top of the stairs, I hear someone coming from the other side. The door slams open and of course, its Nelson, the loud, old man from earlier that night.
"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, YOU LIL SHIT!"
This catches me off guard and I jump a bit.
"Fuck you old man!"
Nelson stops suddenly, just before his foot touches the first step that leads down to the first floor.
"WHAT THA HELL DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME, BOY?"
I stand there thinking; Is this the only way he talks?
"I said Fuck You. What are you going to do about it old man?"
As quick as I said the statement, he was coming towards me faster than fast. His limp had suddenly disappeared. He raises both of his hands and he begins to chock me. I attempt to pry his fingers apart but for an old man, he was surprisingly strong. As his grip slowly tightened, my face slowly reddened. Veins begin to pop out of my forehead and I can feel myself starting to black out. I only did it because I had to. I raised my right knee and hit him in his jelly babies. He fell to the floor like a Muslim would in time of prayer. I stand, slouched over with my hands on my knees, and catch my breath, then slowly turn toward the second floor door and open it. I step thru and when I look up, Martz is standing there looking at me.
"What the HELL is going on here?" Martz said.
"The old man came at me. He about chocked me to death."
"Jesus, Peacock, Give the old man a break. I told you he was my best worker."
I turn, grab my spot mop and head toward the next bathroom. As I walk away,
Nelson utters out, "I'LL GET YOU NEXT TIME, SIR."
Although I appreciated the respect factor, I didn't give a damn about that ball smashed, piece of shit.
I figured out that each night, Martz would leave at about 2 am and wouldn't come back. So I busted my ass till then. After 2, I walked out to my car and took a sip from my own brown bag. This job might be alright, I said to myself.
