It was another cold, clammy Chicago January morning. The Serbian was up at the actual ‘ break of dawn’ preparing for work. He had recently gotten his green card and steady work was more of a luxury. His muscular look had gotten him a laborer’s job at a construction site halfway across town. They called it ‘ Day work’ because at the end of his shift he got his pay envelope. The cash came in handy towards the rent of an apartment he knew his landlord had charged way too much for. What could he do? His young wife and their little three year old needed four walls and a roof, especially when the temperature hit rock bottom. At least the heat worked, which is about all that did work well in this decrepit apartment building.
He rushed his breakfast of peanut butter on graham crackers dipped into the graciously accepted cup of hot coffee. HIs wife had prepared his lunchbox the night before, so he grabbed it and looked again at the clock above the kitchen table. Time to go, so he kissed his sleeping wife and their sleeping her little angel next to her. Last month, with a day’s pay, he had bought a second hand winter coat at the Army/Navy store around the corner. Along with a second hand Army woolen sweater he was ready for the cold. The final piece of his outfit was the everlasting heavy woolen beanie cap to cover his ears and brow, especially while he worked on the freezing site. He hurried down to the bus stop. It would take him usually 45 minutes to his job site, and that was after having to stand another 20 or 30 minutes for the bus to show up. During the winter they were never on time.
Bill Klasne, Chicago foot patrolman, was driving his young son Nick to school that morning when they passed by that bus stop. The two of them saw the Serbian standing with his lunchbox dangling from his arms. Bill slowed down as they went into the turning lane. ” You see that man standing there waiting for the bus? He is on his way to work, standing in the freezing cold. Nicky, THAT guy is a hero! Probably going to a not so great job this morning because he most likely has a family to support Nicky. Not those football and baseball stars you kids admire as heroes. No son, THAT guy is a **** hero.” Klasne knew the kid probably wouldn’t understand until he became a father and had to work for his family as well. One does not comprehend the working class until one experiences working as such. That type of education was not able to be taught in some classroom or by some schoolbook. The bus finally came for the guy with the lunchbox and the funny beanie cap.
The Serbian arrived at the job site with plenty of time to spare. He got himself a cup of hot coffee at the food truck, spoke to a few coworkers and began his shift. The work was both strenuous and tedious, and the only consolation was the 45 minutes they gave them for lunch, and the deep sandwich his wife prepared for him. The pickle she packed came in handy to offset the pile of ham and cheese that she piled into the roll. It was winter, so she usually made sure he had a nice orange or tangerine to offset the Chicago tone, allowing him to fantasize being in sunny Florida where the fruit was born. What a woman!
At four o’clock, quitting time, he was ready to take the long trip home. The temperature was dropping as he pulled the beanie down to cover his ears more. Then it happened. The foreman called out to him to come and sit with him inside the trailer. Before he could process things he was handed the usual pay envelope with cash, along with a rejoinder by the boss. Today would be his last day… sorry. They were cutting back on men, and the last in were always the first out, so he was told. The foreman said he had his number, and if anything came up, or from maybe another job site they would call him. And, that was that.
PA Farruggio
December, 2024