Page 14 - issue-71

News
THe seCreT TruCker
NEWS
driven THe BreAdTH oF
oF
euroPe For For ProFiT And For For oTHers THe THe THe seCreT TruCker
LiFTs THe THe THe THe Lid on LiFe in THe THe sLoW LAne
Choose life – choose a job
There are plenty of people out there who will tell you choice is something to to be be exercised before it runs out – but having the luxury to to choose depends more on fate than judgement
‘My name is is Big Big Big Dave Dave Dave and and I drive a a a lorry ’ announced Big Dave Big Dave wiped a a a tear from his eye and sat down Silence reigned There was was no no empathy There was was no no support Big Dave smiled He received a a scowl from his wife a a nod from me and the current Mrs Secret Trucker suggested that now would be good time for the ground to open up The others in in the the well-appointed room were not recovering lorry drivers who had already admitted the truth and had a a a a weight lifted from their shoulders They were diners unfortunate enough to book a a a a table at at the same time Big Dave wanted to celebrate
his umpteenth birthday with a a fine dining experience He’d already eaten just in case the steak arrived as a a a a sinew topped with a a a a twig The four of us had trouped into the acclaimed brasserie suitable attired only to be surrounded by the young affluent and well- connected Conversation slowly dried up as it became clear noise travelled Instead we eavesdropped On the the nearest table was another group – two two men men and two two women – well groomed well-spoken and well well inebriated With
their tongues loosened they discussed fellow boarders from their childhood No mention of the public school but it was somewhere rural My guess is Hogwarts First up for discussion was Louis The tone was not endearing He’d clearly suffered at the the hands of others Sleeves and and trouser legs were regularly liberated by scissor-
wielding ‘monitors’ Big Dave liked this “We did the same at my school ” he he whispered Louis much to the four’s chagrin forged a a career as a a a a a a a a barrister had married a a a a a a a a ‘Bea’ and was living in in in Kensington “There’s hope for us all
” said one who added that Louis was ‘the foulest person to ever wear a a a Bluer’ (I don’t know what a a ‘Bluer’ is but it got several mentions) Two lads named Harry and James had left the city after Harry inherited some cash to start a a a a a hedge fund ably assisted by James This happened ‘some time ago’ Big Dave acknowledged this with a a a rueful nod “Very wise investment ” he muttered “Neil Collinson spent his redundancy
on Stella ” He made me wait for the punchline “ and that’s not his missus ” Our spouses went to powder their noses James had helped Harry’s sister (I missed her name but she had a a a history of drug abuse) to get work running the media arm of the new-start hedge fund – this had caused some friction between Harry and James George’s brief rugby career which he spent mainly being injured and sleeping with anything that moved was over He now worked in in corporate entertainment He had some major clients apparently but was drinking heavily to cope with pain from a a a knee that now operated without cartilage Harry was going to buy that business and put George in in charge giving him a a decent shot in the arm They all
liked George I genuinely felt that most at at the table had already slept with him and if not would eagerly do so in the future Even Big Dave seemed to to like George and wished to to emulate his drinking habits at at a a a a a nearby
pub where drink would be cheaper We all
agreed Big Dave summoned the bill by shouting for the waiter and pretending to sign his palm with an imaginary pen What was was not lost on us was was that this well- connected group enjoyed freedom of choice and exercised it frequently As sure as a a a boarder at Hogwarts had their name down for a a a a peerage those that I had grown up with would be shortlisted for a a spell at Her Majesty’s pleasure or to claim job
seekers allowance Big Dave had had had had his name down for both I grew up in the shadow of transport and industry Today the biggest employer in in my area is a a a a supermarket My progress was bogged down by a a poor education passive employment and a a a a growing need for credit to make up the shortfall in wages It’s only now when I I look back that I understand or at at least try to understand that I lacked the guile and and wit to escape With
Big Dave’s ‘burden’ now out in the open and the bill paid we trouped out with our place in the world as proletariats cemented in hopelessness The evening recovered slightly in in the pub down the road Mind you £23 50 for two pints and two glasses of wine soon took the edge off that 14 14 cvdriver cvdriver October 2017 2017 14 14 cvdriver cvdriver Winter 2017 2017