Brief Fifteen

We Dig.

We dig, dig, dig. We dig, dig, dig. Ahhh, the digging. The constant goddamn digging. And there's no Snow White in sight. But we dig ... nonetheless. I shouldn't really complain. I chose this job. I chose the digging. Some days I dig nonstop with no time to lift my head up and look out the window. Oh yeah, we got windows. Our boss is not a tyrant. He's a prick yeah, but not a tyrant. But the digging, the digging is starting to get to me. No, I'm not an undertaker. You don't dig graves in a building with windows. At least we don't. But I sure feel like strangling some people some days. They get to you. No one seems to appreciate your digging some days. And it hurts. They need us to dig but then they act like we're digging their gardens up or some such bullgaga.

Nick, my dig buddy, God love him, guy loves to dig. He's a newbie digger though and it's kind of my job to supervise him, you know, make sure he's digging right. Cuz you gotta dig right. You don't dig up your share of dirt for the day, Boss is not very happy with you. Nicky knows that. That's why he comes to me sometimes and watches me dig, so he knows how it's done right. Boss likes Nick. I think he's got him in mind for my replacement. Ok, who told Boss I may be going away for a while? Oh yeah, it was me. Oh, I'm nice, I'm nice. And honest I am too. Bullgaga. Got Boss all scared and nervous talking about going away for a while. Hates that Boss does. Knows I'm the best digger he ever had. Knows I love the digging. The digging's in my blood. Found me a replacement quick enough though. Hey Boss, I'm still here man. I'm still diggin' for ya. Got blood on my hands for ya.

No, I haven't killed anyone. Although some days ... wait, I already said that. So we dig, dig, dig. It's brutal. It's nasty. It's tough. But we're tough too. Getting old is not helping though. And all those years, I haven't got a nugget of gold to show for it. Boss pays well, but he keeps the gold for himself. And his pretty little wife. With her pretty little hobbies, and whims. She needs all. She takes all. Last time I checked, Snow White was not blond! Ok, must admit, last time I checked was a very long time ago. But as far as I know, fairytales don't change with the years. People do. Boss and wifey sure did.

I'm not digging today. Got that cough again. All the dust we bring up with our damn digging. Stinks. Boss gives me drugs. They work. But I'm tired of them. Tired of the digging. I'm going away for a while though. Boss knows that. Nicky knows that. Everybody knows that. Will I be back? Hey, I'm the notorious Leaver! But the digging, the digging is one thing I can't leave. The digging is my life. And I need the digging. Sweat, dust, drugs and all. So, chances are ... I'll be back.

Hey, is that Snow White?