better. The other guys, they don’t like to drive chemicals. He has his own rig and he’s got a partner so he makes his run pretty much non-stop. I’ve heard, and this is just a rumor, that he keeps two log books. Him and his partner don’t pay no nevermind to the 70-hour driving schedule. He was money in the bank for Asa. Heard he got fined a few weeks back. He was carrying two skids of cigarette lighters and he took it through a tunnel in Pennsylvania. He got fined and had to pay out twelve hundred big ones. Out of his own pocket. It’s not the first time, either. Sometimes, rumor had it, Asa bailed him out. He might be worried you won’t do the same. You did okay today. If you keep up the good work you should be able to take your test in a few weeks.”
In spite of herself, Ariel was pleased. “See you tomorrow, Mr. Norbert.”
Ariel was back at Able Body Trucking in less than twenty minutes to pick up Dolly. On the way to the shooting range she swigged from a bottle of Diet Pepsi and wolfed down a Hot Pocket sandwich. “It’s illegal to carry a gun in the rig, but all the truckers do it. Most times the cops look the other way. I found that out today. I bought a gun ten days ago, picked it up two days ago. It’s a Glock 9 millimeter. Norbert said it’s light and made out of some kind of special porcelain. We’re getting you one, too.”
Dolly groaned in dismay. “I. don’t think I could shoot anyone.”
“You could if your life was in danger. Trust me on that one. Remember that picture I made a long time ago called The Lady and the Thief? I really got into that part and when he was about to toss me over the roof, I pulled out my prop gun and shot him dead. I remember how real the feeling was. I guess you have to experience something like that to understand what I’m talking about. Let’s just hope neither one of us has to use it. How are the computer lessons going?”
“Terrible. There’s this thing called a mouse. You move it around. I moved it all right, and erased a whole file. The teacher said not to worry because it was on the C Drive and I was working on the A Drive. The instruction book is absolute Greek to me. I don’t know, Ariel, maybe the only thing I’m good at is keeping house and cooking. I don’t want to let you down, but I’m not capable of driving a truck and my bones are too brittle for martial arts. Guns petrify me. I’m game to go along with you on all of this, but if I flub it I don’t want you to be angry.”
“Would you rather stay at the office and forget all this other stuff?”
“Oh, yes. I’ll stick with the computer because the teacher said kids in the first grade know how to use computers. I’m viewing it as the ultimate challenge. Ariel do you know you have 900 tractors and 3000 vans? It’s time to buy more and sell off some of the ones we have. Seems Mr. Able bought 150 cabs, or tractors, as they’re called in the business, at one time. He got a good deal on them. Then when they get 200,000 miles on them, instead of assigning the cab to a team he gives it to one guy, gets another hundred thousand miles out of it, and turns around and sells it for almost as much as he paid for it. Now, even I know that’s sharp business. My point is, it’s time to buy 150 new cabs. This company will run itself once we get it all on a computer. I learned something else this morning. Those hookers that hang out on the fringe of the property are called ‘lot lizards’ and they charge twenty bucks. That guy Chet is their best customer. You need to run them off. Mr. Able wouldn’t allow them on the property. I guess it’s up to you now.”
Ariel told her about her conversation with Norbert. “Bring Chet’s file home with you tonight. After firearms class I’ll drive you back to the office and do the martial arts class myself. It’s basically a refresher course for me, anyway. My teacher said he thinks I can qualify for a brown belt if I want to. I’m better than
In spite of herself, Ariel was pleased. “See you tomorrow, Mr. Norbert.”
Ariel was back at Able Body Trucking in less than twenty minutes to pick up Dolly. On the way to the shooting range she swigged from a bottle of Diet Pepsi and wolfed down a Hot Pocket sandwich. “It’s illegal to carry a gun in the rig, but all the truckers do it. Most times the cops look the other way. I found that out today. I bought a gun ten days ago, picked it up two days ago. It’s a Glock 9 millimeter. Norbert said it’s light and made out of some kind of special porcelain. We’re getting you one, too.”
Dolly groaned in dismay. “I. don’t think I could shoot anyone.”
“You could if your life was in danger. Trust me on that one. Remember that picture I made a long time ago called The Lady and the Thief? I really got into that part and when he was about to toss me over the roof, I pulled out my prop gun and shot him dead. I remember how real the feeling was. I guess you have to experience something like that to understand what I’m talking about. Let’s just hope neither one of us has to use it. How are the computer lessons going?”
“Terrible. There’s this thing called a mouse. You move it around. I moved it all right, and erased a whole file. The teacher said not to worry because it was on the C Drive and I was working on the A Drive. The instruction book is absolute Greek to me. I don’t know, Ariel, maybe the only thing I’m good at is keeping house and cooking. I don’t want to let you down, but I’m not capable of driving a truck and my bones are too brittle for martial arts. Guns petrify me. I’m game to go along with you on all of this, but if I flub it I don’t want you to be angry.”
“Would you rather stay at the office and forget all this other stuff?”
“Oh, yes. I’ll stick with the computer because the teacher said kids in the first grade know how to use computers. I’m viewing it as the ultimate challenge. Ariel do you know you have 900 tractors and 3000 vans? It’s time to buy more and sell off some of the ones we have. Seems Mr. Able bought 150 cabs, or tractors, as they’re called in the business, at one time. He got a good deal on them. Then when they get 200,000 miles on them, instead of assigning the cab to a team he gives it to one guy, gets another hundred thousand miles out of it, and turns around and sells it for almost as much as he paid for it. Now, even I know that’s sharp business. My point is, it’s time to buy 150 new cabs. This company will run itself once we get it all on a computer. I learned something else this morning. Those hookers that hang out on the fringe of the property are called ‘lot lizards’ and they charge twenty bucks. That guy Chet is their best customer. You need to run them off. Mr. Able wouldn’t allow them on the property. I guess it’s up to you now.”
Ariel told her about her conversation with Norbert. “Bring Chet’s file home with you tonight. After firearms class I’ll drive you back to the office and do the martial arts class myself. It’s basically a refresher course for me, anyway. My teacher said he thinks I can qualify for a brown belt if I want to. I’m better than
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