Chapter 2

I was indentured to a Roofing and Sheet Metal Company, owned by two brothers, A.L. and Joe. A.L. was an old-time sheet metal worker, served once as the business agent when the roofers came under SMWIA jurisdiction. Joe was a converted salesman, but a very shrewd business man.

A.L.'s son, Alvin, was a lead mechanic, (journeyman), and his brother-in-law, Jody, was a new mechanic, having become indentured after being laid off from Seaboard Coast Line RR. Laz, was foreman, Jimmy, Adams, and Bob were the other mechanics.

Laz and Jimmy were A.L.'s old cronies. Laz was a very stern foreman, not given to pranks, but watch yourself with the rest of them.

Two weeks after I started, they indentured another apprentice, Warren. Laz, Jimmy, and Jody, were A.L.'s age, Alvin and Adams were early thirties, Bob, Warren, and I were all around 25. Bob had indentured right out of high school, while Warren (Coast Guard) and I went into the service.

Although Warren and I were grown men, there was still a certain hazing of apprentices, we got the shit jobs. That soon changed for us both, as we proved to be valuable employees, and could carry our weight.

When we went on a job, Alvin would be explaining the plan while we apprentices strung out drop cords, unloaded material, etc. One of us would listen carefully, and when the conference broke up, we would go to Alvin and tell him our ideas of what we shoud do on the job. Of course, it was almost word for word what he had said, and he would blow up about the "mouthy" apprentices, until he figured us out.

I promise you, my family and I had come to a warmer place. Summer, on a roof, in Florida ... you get the idea. I didn't just work on roofs. Tuesday and Thursday, Warren and I had school 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 8 hours on Saturday, I worked at my cousin's shop.

This was against all union regulations, but they let me slide for a while. I really needed this income, as we were barely getting by, with milk and cookies for the kids, and Doctor bills for the wife.

Since Gus was pregnant when I was indentured, her pregnancy was not covered. I paid for the monthly visits, and a flat fee, brace yourself, of $150.00 for the Obstetrician who would do the delivery. Funny how some things snowball, huh. Hospital fees were only $150.00, also.

A long, long, hot summer, right on into late September. It seems the whole shop loved to take time off in late fall and winter, so no jobs were coming in, just fill-in.

During November, some weeks I was lucky to get 16 hours. The union quit looking aside, and told me in no uncertain terms that my second job had ended. Things got very tight, and then tighter. Here comes December, and Christmas.

My second daughter was born in October, and any reserves we had were gone. Then missing work, a second job, and Christmas nearing, yeah, I was beginning to hate December. I actually heard a song on the radio that summed it all up for me. Yep, "If We Make It Through December" by none other than Merle Haggard.