The Drip, a novel by Michael Gullo
“Matt Ayers.”
“Heya, Matt. Nice to meet you.”
“That’s a lot smaller than it looked in the picture.”
“You minimized it. That’s a new approach. I like it.”
“Expect a forehead wipe?”
“At least.”
“We go from one job to the next with this rig.”
“When I saw the grill pop over top of the hill, I was shocked. Then I saw the pump trailer, the hoses put away on the side racks. If no other reason, you’re my guy. Try to not suck on price, and we got a deal.”
“Nah, that’s no shiny vinyl wrap truck. Let the man smooth shoes and pressed shirts play the price game. I say it. I mean it. And I’ll do it for that.”
“Say it.”
“Fourteen thousand dollars.”
“Deal.”
“Will you have her ready Monday?”
“Absolutely guaranteed.”
“What do you have for that rough spot in the road?”
“We’re getting some boulders to run down the high side to catch some rip rap and big gravel we’re gonna run in.”
“Had concrete trucks up here yet?”
“You’re the first. No shortage of triple axle rock trucks, but concrete trucks are an order of magnitude – I think you need front discharge.”
“Ya, I’s thinkin’ same thing.”
“Although, you’re going to set up where you’re parked right now, right? Got enough line for that?”
“Got three hundred foot. I stepped off two-fifty to the back here. That’s a good cushion.”
“If they come rear discharge, they can back up the hill, and that stabilizes the load for the push.”
“That’s a good point. USA Concrete’s got the best drivers up here. Least bitchin’.”
“I bet that matters on your end of the hose. Me, I pay, they leave. We had a company called Sequatchie down in the valley, and I got toe to toe with one of their drivers one time.”
“Surprise they’re belly up – folded in, anyway.”
“So, Monday. I’ll get back at it.”
“Next job.”
“Hey.”
“Love.”
“You up to no good?”
“Always, but not this time. Just calling – the shotcrete guy showed.”
“Any spidey senses?”
“Nopers. No shill required. Six turns taken, and the deal’s fourteen thousand. Starts Monday.”
“Is that good?”
“Two and a half trucks retails around seven grand, so that’s seven and seven.”
“Mixed drinks.”
“Ha, yeah. I’m telling Emma.”
“She’d eat you alive.”
“I can be quite beguiling.”
“She would have you beheaded in minutes.”
“How about that dodgeball team you’re renting?”
“Well, I’m so glad you asked.”
“That bad?”
“Not at all. They all perfect gentlemen. I haven’t the fish film thin first foggy eye idea what you’re so exhausted about in any given day. They arrived thirty minutes early. They bought me a chicken biscuit from Chick-fil-A and they whistle while they work. Tanner went to get the trailer that you ordered – three enclosed trailers in a week, I can’t speak so kindly for you as I can for them – the boys have been packing one box after another. It looks like the castle’s ramparts out in the garage. That’s another thing, your douche canoe is parking outside tonight. Spot’s full up.”
“And your spot?”
“Mine’s all good. Thanks.”
“Boys are on their bess behavior is all.”
“Nope. Leadership change.”
“How’s the pack going?”
“They do all of it.”
“You sound pretty up for three days ago holler balls on Mamaw’s china.”
“They wash their hands for breakfast, and I don’t freeze them half to death like you do, tyrant.”
“Savor the flavor. I need them back for the actual work.”
“They have almost the whole house packed up. Three loads went to storage today, and they got your whole workshop packed in the trailer Tanner’s taking home this evening so he can deliver it to The Drip tomorrow morning.”
“So one more day?”
“Two to be safe.”
“We got safety issues here too. I promised Monday. We need a day to buff up the road and probably a day to clean up and get ready on the wall site. The dam’s got more drool than a St. Bernard.”
“Good luck with that. They’re mine. I decided that other thing too.”
“The apartment?”
“Yeah, I don’t feel safe there. Amy’s would have been great, but it’s too far from the office, and that apartment – it’s not a good neighborhood, but Karen keeps telling me to move home.”
“Oh, boy.”
“Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare pull a full Bill shit stir with his Oh boy leading the way.”
“It’s just – it’s a told ya so, honey, an I told you so. I don’t get many of these.”
“Nope.”