 |
| Joe |
I live in Clariton in Dobbs County, Texas. I work in a local consignment shop, while my boyfriend works at a major retailer. It takes him about 15 minutes to drive to work.
Before he went to work at the retail business, he worked the graveyard shift at one of Clariton's two convenience stores. He sold fuel, cooked fast food in a kitchenette, and stocked merchandise. Basically, he did everything that needed to be done, and he did it alone because he was the only one who worked that late.
My boyfriend's workplace was right across the road from Clariton Cemetery. This local cemetery probably has more residents than our town does (our population is 500). The cemetery had been vandalized over the years, and its association decided to employ a security guard. I don't remember when this occurred, as I was (probably) a pre-teen at that time.
The security guard was named Joseph Skaggs, but everyone called him Mr. Joe. He worked from sunset to dawn, patrolling the grounds. When he was not on patrol, he was stationed at a small office - a sort of guard shack - where he busied himself with doing who knows what, at least until the next scheduled patrol. The building had electricity and everything he might need to be comfortable. It protected him from the rain, cold, and other undesirable weather conditions.
When Mr. Joe was not working, he often ate lunch at my boyfriend's store. He would open the cemetery gates, and drive across the road onto the parking lot in a security vehicle - an open golf cart. Once inside, he would usually order a chicken meal. When my boyfriend tells this story, he always emphasizes that Mr. Joe ordered "fried chicken, mashed potatoes, cheese macaroni, and a dinner roll."
See Part 2 here.
Or:
See more fiction here.
© 2024-2025 Lonestar Hobby Blog
