Swing State (9 page)

16.

T
HE LIGHTS BUZZED.
C
RACKLED.
W
HITE WALLS.
Paneled ceiling. Imagined working there. That buzz all day. Sit quietly. At a desk. Fill out papers. Kids in high school. His classes. This is what they wanted. Sit at a desk to sit at a desk.

Every noise louder. Felt a headache coming behind his eyes. Waiting area. Old magazines. Lady next to him sniffled. Every forty-five seconds. He timed it. Nothing else to do. Sniff, sniff. Not like gunshots where he stopped hearing it, or bells on the door of the garage. Every one worse. In his spine first, then up and down his body.

She got called. Sniffler. Went in. Stephanie, they said. Stood up and sniffled in. Then other things: flipping pages. Chairs against the carpet. Breathing. Music playing. Bad versions of bad songs. No vocals. But he knew them. Did you ever know that you're my hero. Do you know the way to San Jose. Have you ever seen the rain. One after another. When he left one would be stuck in his head. Didn't know which one. Didn't matter. Poor bastards who worked there. Bringing work home with them. Always heard that. Peck. When I get back I'm gonna do customizing and detailing. Great work. Then at the end of the day I'll leave it in the garage. Forget all about that shit. Start drinking.
Not worry about a goddamn thing. Can't wait. These people couldn't. Dancing on the ceiling at work. Then at home. Every day. I bless the rains down in Africa.

Looked at magazines. Heard the songs. Knew every one. Everyone called but him. Some people got there after him, sat down, got called.

Finally: Royal Eggleton.

Same lady. Always looked like someone farted.

Hello, Royal, she said when he stood up. Saw her eyes change. Like oh, him. Great.

Led him through a maze of cubes. Heard the music. Reeling in the years. Always got lost trying to get out. A left, a right. Another. Another. Stopped paying attention. Distracted. Reeling solo. Wasn't bad. Conversations. Some sounded happy. I might have something for you. Have you tried the . . . ? I'd advise you to . . . A right. She sat down at a desk. Remembered the picture. Smiling little girl. Missing front tooth. Cute. She gestured at the chair.

Well, Royal, she said. I'm afraid the news isn't very good. Her face looked pinched. Like she didn't want him there. As you know, construction jobs are very hard to come by.

I know, he said. Didn't worry about it the whole time he was away. Glad. Enough shit to deal with. Came back and got blind-sided. Stupid. Should never have listened. But glad he did.

The manufacturing sector has largely been outsourced to foreign soil, eliminating a majority of jobs at mills and factories. We have been doing our best to find work for you, but the longest tenured employees hold their jobs tight. Union regulations.

And I'm afraid the janitorial jobs in the area are the same way. And landscaping. The number of applicants has increased dramatically with the closure of so many mills and factories. While you
were gone Northeast Paper closed. That alone added another eight hundred to the pool.

Janitorial. Cleaned shit as punishment. Turd splatter. Got shot at. Almost died. Artillery. Qualified him to clean shit. Or put paper cups in boxes all day.

Isn't there anything else?

In the past, we have placed veterans in call centers. These jobs have moved south. And cameras and surveillance equipment have taken the place of traditional security in many workplaces. It's cheaper to install a high-tech system than it is to hire a staff. This is a shame. With your military background you are perfectly qualified for security.

At least standing with a gun made sense.

Unless you have specific training I'm not sure I'll be able to assist you further at this time.

I used to work on engines. While I was there. Had a lot of experience. Training.

Your profile lists you as artillery.

Well, I was. But there was a shortage. Need. My spare time, I spent on engines.

Engines. I see. What kind of engines?

Trucks, mostly. Some regular. Some diesel.

Diesel.

I've been reading.

Excuse me?

Books. From the library. Foreign. Domestic. Diesel. Gas. Brushing up. I was good at it.

Books from the library.

Plus my experience. Lot of stuff overseas. A lot. I would have gotten more time in if it hadn't been for—

Yes, I know.

—you know, if I hadn't—

Yes, yes. I know. I am aware.

—so maybe you can—

I see. Yes. Um. Of course, yes. Beyond the markets we've previously discussed I may be able to fit you into some kind of mechanical opening. There are a few.

Thank you.

One in Haughton, the other in Hanley.

What about Snooker's?

Excuse me?

Snooker's.

. . .

Garage.

. . .

In Schaferville. Anything there?

Snooker's Garage is not one of our clients.

Friend of mine works there. Artie. Know him?

I don't believe I do, no.

Great guy. Great. Best friends since grade school.

His name does not ring a bell.

Maybe if you saw him.

Maybe, yes. We do not—

Easy to recognize him. Great looking guy. Not that . . . you know—

—of course. We do not —

—I'm just saying is all. Hahahaha.

Yes. We do not work with Snooker's.

Artie works over there.

Yes, as you mentioned. If you have specific establishments in mind, it is a good strategy to visit them yourself and inquire
within. We are happy to assist you with your job search, as you know, but feel free to target establishments on your own.

I did. Yesterday. Walked there. Wasn't working.

You should try back again.

I will. I just thought maybe I hadn't told you so I thought I would.

Of course.

Don't know why I didn't think of that before. I guess I was thinking about construction. They promised I'd have work. When I got back. And I didn't. So I didn't think about—

Of course, Royal.

Hard getting back to normal.

Yes.

Didn't want to think about it. You know. About being overseas.

Of course. I do wish you had mentioned it upon your initial screening.

Didn't think of it.

I could have been looking at that sector of the job market for you all this time.

Couldn't.

Yes, of course. So, Royal, if there are any specific garages you think would be conducive to your job search, seek them out specifically and directly. Ask them if they need any help. Become known to them.

Are you saying hang around?

Not necessarily hang around, but be frequent in your check backs. This will establish you as a serious candidate.

Okay.

I will do my part.

Thank you.

Stop by in a few weeks.

I will.

As always I will call if anything opens up.

Thank you.

He got up. Realized he didn't know how to get out.

“Hip to be Square” in the background.

Stuck in the middle. Wasn't sure where he was. Looked for an edge. Find a wall, follow it to the lobby. But there were cubes everywhere. Desks. Couldn't see any way out.

Turned around. Went back.

I'm sorry, I—

I'll escort you out, she said, face fartpinched.

She walked him through the maze to the lobby. “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” came on.

Well, Royal, she said. Good luck. I'll be seeing you.

Thank you.

He watched her walk back to her desk.

Hadn't been to garages. Needed to. But wasn't sure. Skills. He had some. Could learn more. But didn't have many. Probably not enough. Was just starting to understand when it happened. Hopefully Artie would vouch for him. Show him things. Get him up to speed. If there were places that needed help bad they might take him. But that stuff she said. About the economy. Mills closing. Made sense. All the closed stores in Schaferville. Except the beer place. And the cheese shop.

One garage on the way back to his place. What was it called. Couldn't remember. Seemed okay. Looked a little expensive. Good. They'd pay.

Hello there, I'm looking for a job. No. Hello, sir. Unless it was a lady. Like at Artie's. Ma'am? Miss? Madam? Couldn't remember which. Always changed. Maybe just hello. That would work. Hello. I am just back from overseas. No. More. I have just
returned from serving our country. Too much. I just got back from Afghanistan where I worked on engines. Good. I'm a war veteran with experience fixing engines. Maybe that was it.

The place was in that strip. Not much of anything there. A few houses. Carpet store. Some trees. Woods. He went there a few times. When he was little. Might as well. Explore. But it was boring. No quarries or hearses or anything. Surprised it wasn't developed yet. Always happened. Buy land, build houses. All looked the same. Matter of time. Then cheese shops would go in. Lots of people with houses. Hopefully two cars each. Need more garages.

She said mechanical. That was good. Didn't realize until now. Not mechanic. Mechanical. Like working on big machines. Factories. Wouldn't be so bad. Handyman. Fix things when they broke. Have to learn them. But he could. Good with his hands. Belts, grease. All made sense to him. Missed that. The grease. Hands clean since he got back.

Passed a little house. Barely big enough for two people to stand in. Java Express, it said. Drive-up coffee. Closed. No shit. Expensive. Snob coffee. Espresso. When he drank coffee, Dunkin' Donuts every time. Only at night. Driving someplace, or back. Mostly Boston. Artie. Back from Sox games. Made him feel nervous. Some of the guys, they drank coffee before patrol. Peck. Long. Donaldson. College Boy. Gotta stay alert, Peck said. Have your senses heightened. He tried it. All he could see was his hands shaking. And the next morning was a headache. Not behind the eyes. Different. Top of his brain. Sharp.

Trees. Woods.

Streetlight down the road. Thought that's where the garage is. Nice place like that would have its own light. Pay well. Let him work on a beater. Fix it up. Maybe on weekends, if there was downtime. Days off. Or he could wait. The walk wasn't so bad.
Did more walking every day, around the common, to the quarry. Leg getting stronger.

The garage. No light yet. Too early. But it looked good. New. All brick. Not old stuff. Brick face. Supposed to look like a garage but nice also. Auto Emporium, it said.

Went in. Same music as the unemployment office. “Land Down Under.” Lobby had leather chairs. Big TV. ESPN. Glass table. Magazines.
Men's Health, Newsweek
. No one reading them. All on laptops. Tablets. Phones.

Hello, I've just returned from overseas. Where I worked on engines. No, not right. Sounded weird. I worked on engines there. Better. I'm wondering if you have any openings. Close. Maybe job openings. I'm wondering if you have any job openings. That was it. Sounded good.

Woman behind the counter. Old, kinda. Dyed hair. Smiled. Are you here to pick up?

What?

Your car?

Oh. Uh, no. I, uh. I'm wondering if you need help.

Damnit. Stupid.

Uh, if you have any job openings.

Did you see the ad?

Act like you did. That means they're hiring.

I did.

Great. Hang on a sec.

She disappeared.

Holy shit. Good luck. Timing. Whatever. A job. Save money. Get a better place. Someplace warmer.

But wait. No guarantee. Don't get too excited. Might not happen. Probably won't.

She came back. Pad in her hand. Pink. Applications.

Here you go, hon. Do you need a pen?

Yes.

She nodded her head. Mug of them on the counter.

Thanks, he said. Be right back.

Leather chair. Sat. Started application.

Work experience.

Infantry, he wrote. Division and unit. Then: mechanical repair. Specialty: engines. He put his high school job at the mill, too.

At the counter, the woman still there.

All finished, hon?

Yes. I've been having a hard time finding work. Since I got back. From Afghanistan.

You were over there?

He nodded. Yes, ma'am. But I repaired engines.

What kinds?

Diesel. Domestic. Foreign.

She nodded. Some of our guys are going to the new place. We're opening another Auto Emporium in Wilburton. So this might be some easy stuff for you. Oil changes, mufflers. Inspections.

It's tough, he said. You know. Finding work.

I know, hon. Thanks for filling this out. I'll make sure Ahmed gets it. He's the owner.

Okay, thanks.

He's going to take applications and do calls. Hopefully you'll get one. He likes vets. Believes in what you're doing over there.

Good.

If you don't hear back in a week or so, call. Or come by.

What's your name?

Doris.

Okay, he said. Doris. Are you in the phone book?

Hang on, she said. Bent behind the counter. Stood up. Here's a card.

Doris Martineau, it said. Business manager, Auto Emporium.

Give me a call. She looked at the application. Royal?

Roy.

She took a pen and wrote “Roy” at the top.

Roy. No guarantees. But we'll do what we can. Sound good?

Yes, ma'am. Thank you.

One last thing. Where did you see the ad?

If I say the Internet that sounds safe. Unless they don't use it. They must. No one uses newspapers.

I can't remember where.

We've got a lot of ads out.

Sorry.

She laughed. Sounded like a dog barking. That's okay, hon. Anyway, you have a great day, 'kay?

I will, he said. Thank you.

Door rang as he left. Went good. Really good. Even though he screwed up the beginning. That question. Picking up. Thought she was talking about weed. Artie. Always saying “I've got to pick up a pizza” on the phone instead of weed. Safer that way. Code. In case people were listening. Never know who's on the other end, he said. Tripped him up. But she was nice. Seemed to like him. Wrote his name on the top of the application. That was good.