Night Works

Night Works

 

Leaning against my shovel, I rub at my eyes. Caffeine just doesn’t hack it anymore. I don’t know what I’m doing here. Well actually I do. I’m here for the pay. Nothing else would get me doing night works.

Bit of a joke really, calling it night works. One man in a steam roller roars back and forward, back and forward while about eight men, some leaning on shovels, and some sitting on their coolers, watch.

The scene is all lit up with flashing lights, safety lights, spot lights... and the noise! Well, you know what it's like... Even with those squishy little ear things in, my head is pounding.

Decide to start singing. Not like anyone can hear, plus it could help keep me awake.

When I was a kid I wanted to be a rock star. Start screaming out Amity Affliction, “We are all stars in the sky; We all shimmer then decay; So I wonder did I burn out, make a mark; Or fade away." Can’t even hear myself.

I make out a couple of stars winking above me and suddenly I laugh.

“I’ve practically done it!” I yell. “I’m practically a rock star!

(Beats my chest)

"The flashing lights!"

(Gestures)

"The stars!"

(I point upward)

“The constant barrage of noise!”

(Nobody has noticed me yet)

“I even have my name up in lights!” I roar, pointing at the flashing LED billboard.

It says WAIT.

My name is Wade.

(Shrugs)

Close enough.

 

Author's Note

random attempt at killing writers block :)

i own no rights for amity affliction songs... obviously :P

Reviews

[Troy Henson]

Oh I enjoyed this! Loved the humour in this one. Very well done 😊

[Stan Lee]

Thank you Troy. Hope all is well with you and yours :)

[...]

Night works is my favorite book by Jachym Topol. So I decide to read this one. I don 't really don't read too much short stories or novels. I can just stick with poems. But this one short one so why not. I like this funny acting there and when hero always surprise him self with own action. Story have nice flow and probably good grammar . So I don't know what I can tell you about your weak points. Have nice day.

[.]

Haha. Another good short story!

So true about the scene around road works! I would argue there are even more sitting around doing nothing while one guy in a roller does all the work!
I enjoyed the scene you depicted; the imagination of a would be rockstar while stuck in the mundane environs of the night shift. On a stage all of his own making.

Again your story concludes with a witty bang, a hallmark of your writes and something that serves to make your stories stand out from the pack.

Another excellent write, Andronicus. Enjoyed this immensely. Fine work.

[Hannah]

I like the style of writing, with the actions in parenthesis and the stream of consciousness. It adds to the humor in the story. And speaking of humor, that ending made me laugh. Very enjoyable story!

[Stan Lee]

Thank you for your constructive review Hannah. I'm glad you enjoyed the style and humor. :)

[Delmar Cooper]

Never heard of "Amity" so no sweat about blown covers or copyright woes here. A lot I've never heard of, so it goes. But, I have heard of talented writers, and I do seem to recognize one when I see it. (It the writing not it the writer. The writers all look pretty much alike.)
This place is where writers go to die, like the proverbial elephant graveyard. Feedback here is just being picked over by ivory hunters. Go forth and write.

[Zugzwang]

Nice fun story.
I think you mean caffeine just doesnt cut it any more, right?
I can relate to the writers block.
I think my poetry is getting worse lol.

[Stan Lee]

Zeitnot! I haven't seen you in years! Thanks for dropping by to read and review. I guess I incorporate a few too many made up sayings huh? :D Post some poetry maybe. It might inspire you! :)

[Zugzwang]

Yeah, I spent some time away as I was studying. Im back now as I'm studying poetry this semester

[Hi]

"Close enough"

That was my favorite. Good ending.

Caught an extra apostrophe at the end of "don't" on the first line.

[Stan Lee]

Oops :) Thanks for pointing that out Matt. Thanks for your comments. :)

[Tony Jordan]

Simon Cowell on steamroller says... "It's not good... "...
"It's brilliant!! "

Great little sketch about keeping our dreams alive Andrea.
Does you moonlight as a construction worker then when you aren't number crunching?
; p

[Stan Lee]

Thank you Tony. Glad you liked it :)

[David R Gonzalez]

This is comical. It reminds me of the time I would look out my window and see the constructions workers all standing around the roller doing nothing. They came and destroyed the road in front of my house (which was perfectly fine) and then did not come back to fix it for 2 months! you can only imagine how much it irritated me seeing 10 guys standing around doing nothing and 1 person working. this appeases my anger a bit, it helps me see them as humans with aspirations.

[Stan Lee]

Thanks a lot for all your kind reviews. I'm glad you found it comical. :-)

[Dr. Wood ?]

Oh the frustration of it all yet you really scored a personal success. You could always blame the LIGHTING man for misspelling your name

[Stan Lee]

You're right :) Thanks for reading & reviewing. P.s. Don't feel obliged. I genuinely am enjoying your poetry.

[Dr. Wood ?]

not feeling obliged, just know where to come for a quick and entertaining read

[Stan Lee]

good :) thanks