Tribulation

CHAPTER 1 Muriel pulled on her rain gear before going out to move the twelfth trailer that was loaded tonight. The crew was sure loading them fast. She put on her thermal lined gloves even though she knew her fingers would be numb before she got finished. She picked up the seal for the trailer door and started for the door. “I'll be back in a few minutes Jesse” she said to the security guard as she walked out into the cold rain. Muriel hated to be cold but she always loved the rain. Since most people don't like to get out in it she knew she would have some precious alone time. She climbed into the cab of the yard dog and started the engine. She gave it a couple of minutes to warm up while she turned on the local country radio station. Narvel Felts was singing “When your good love was mine” in his beautiful falsetto rich voice. She put the yard dog in gear, pulled in front of the trailer at dock 5 and backed up till she heard the plate lock into place. She got out, hooked up the air lines then she moved the trailer stabilizer and wheel chocks out from under the trailer before climbing back in the warm cab. She mashed the button that raised the trailer up and pulled forward enough that the back doors would clear. Again she stepped out in the cold and walked to the back of the trailer. She shut the doors making sure that there was no gap at the top before sliding the handle firmly in place. She locked the seal in place then quickly got back to the warm cab. It was raining harder as she disengaged the air brake and slowly started toward the trailer lot. She had done this a thousand times. Her movements were automatic. Tim, the man who trained her, had been so patient. He was a good teacher. It was hard to remember when moving trailers seemed intimidating. Muriel watched the fat raindrops fall like diamonds silhouetted against the security lights. She knew she'd sleep like a baby when she got home in the morning. Her shift would end at seven am. She dropped the trailer in the trailer lot, unhooked the airlines and headed back. When she got back to the guard shack Jesse had her a hot cup of coffee waiting. He waited till she got out of her wet rain gear before he handed it to her. It was a pure pleasure to get to work with someone so thoughtful. He always got it extra creamy just like she liked it. He was older than her father had been when he passed away and Jesse gave her a lot of comfort and advice. They talked for a few minutes while she sipped her coffee. Sandy and Glenn, her shipping coworkers came in, poured themselves some coffee and they all enjoyed a short break before the next crew came in to relieve them. Sandy, Glenn and Jesse were Christians and even though I was not, I didn't mind when they talked religion since my mom was a Christian also. I was raised hearing about all the doom and gloom things that was supposed to happen someday. Mom was always preaching to me. Sandy was telling Glenn and Jesse about some events that were going on in the middle east. “I think this may be what brings on the Gog and Magog war,” She said. Glenn seemed all excited when he said, “ You know, God said that the generation that saw Israel become a nation will be the generation that see's Jesus's return.” Jesse chimed in, “Israel became a nation again in 1948. I'm not sure what His definition of a generation is but it can't be long now.” I sat and listened with an unexplained contentment, it was like being in my mothers kitchen. I never felt like they were judging me even though I could never contribute to their conversations. The three warehouse workers on the next shift came in to relieve us. We walked up front to the locker rooms to change. I was always so glad to get out of my damp uniform. Sandy and I went into the ladies locker room. She asked, “Do you have any plans for today?” “Just the usual Friday routine. I'm gonna take mom to get her groceries and medicine then go home and sleep till David comes over at seven. What about you?” Sandy's face lit up as she replied, “I'm gonna work on spoiling my grandkids some more.” I smiled just knowing how crazy she was about those kids. They were her life and she always had a ball when they stayed over at her house. I gave her a big hug and said, “Just be careful driving home. I'll see you Sunday night. Give 'em a hug for me!” I walked out to my old '73 Ford truck and started it up. It was still misting rain and I sat there waiting for the truck to warm up. I just love my old truck. It was like it mirrored my personality. It was tired but always dependable. I waved at Connie, Kathy, Donna, Brenda, Greg and John, the packaging workers, as they walked by my truck looking tired from the hard night's work they had just finished. After so many years together we were like an extended family. I pulled out of the parking lot and headed South for the ten mile drive to Lunsford to my moms house. The warmth in the truck was making me sleepy so I turned on my radio. Bobby Borchers was singing “Cheap perfume and candlelight” on the oldies station, kwhf, that I love listening to. Even though I was tired I enjoyed going to moms house. I'd been living on my own for years but there's no place like mom's. She was ready to go when I got there. I felt a twinge of guilt knowing that she was lonesome a lot. All of her kids were on their own now and busy with lives of our own. She looked forward to our weekly grocery run. I helped her climb up in the truck and we started for Trumann. I turned the radio to a gospel station I knew she liked and lowered the volume so we could talk. She told me how her friends were doing, which of my brothers and sisters came by this week, and how much she still missed my dad. We went to the pharmacy first to get her months supply of insulin. She hated to see me pay for it but I knew how hard it was for her to stretch her small check each month. I was so proud of her for how well she did. Next we went to the grocery store where it was always fun to get free trial sizes from the coupons we always cut out of the newspapers. I don't think I've seen her pay full price for detergent in years! We rounded the trip off with a stop at her favorite restaurant for some chicken to take home. It was always bittersweet for me to go to Trumann. Half of my childhood had been spent there. I can remember the tinsel candy canes that hung from the light posts on main street at Christmas. The smells coming out of the bakery as I walked by every morning on my way to school. My favorite fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Lane, who helped me get over my extreme shyness. The Singer factory bar b ques. My first bike purchased at Western Auto. All the happy memories dampened by seeing my dad work so hard on the garbage truck and our extreme poverty. I subconsciously let out a big sigh as I drove North back to Lunsford and left Trumann behind me. I pulled up under the big old oak tree in the front yard and helped mom down from the truck. She unlocked her front door and I carried her bags in and started putting her things away for her while she made some fresh coffee. It was always pleasant to sit with her at the kitchen and talk about family get togethers and the latest quilt top she was working on. She made some mighty warm quilts! While she talked my mind would drift off on dad. I can still feel his presence in the house, God how I miss him!