Winter Layoff Chapter 16
| Winter Layoff | |
|---|---|
| Chapter 16 of 21 | |
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| Read this chapter | |
| Time frame | January 2006 |
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Locations
- Pass Christian, Mississippi
Characters
- Russ Compton
- Aaron, an Amish construction supervisor
- The (unnamed) water system and sewer system repair supervisor in Pass Christian
- The (unnamed) electric utility repair supervisor in Pass Christian
Summary
After breakfast Jim put his site supervisors hat on and directed one group to start getting the floor in place while another got started on the concrete pads for the wheelchair ramp. Bob was to run the backhoe, help the flooring crew by lifting supplies to the floor level, and work on cleaning up the lots across the street. Rachel volunteers to drive the dump truck for him but with some teasing about being yet another in-the-field-and-hands-on person Why do I get the feeling you are your brother’s sister?
Jim takes off to see the utilities people again. At the electrical office he schedules a service hookup, and finds out some of the politics behind the Beach Boulevard project. At the water department office he lets them know that that they’d installed a temporary driven well so the pressure for city water was off for the moment but it would be nice to have drinking water. Jim asked about sewer and was told that they had discovered a couple of breaks on the main lines that would have to be fixed first. Again Jim offered the use of their backhoe. He left now knowing that sewer service was now going to be the determining item on when Aunt Rita and Uncle John could move back into the house.
Jim decides that as long as he is out and about to stop by and see Aaron, the Amish project supervisor. He finds them, has a short chat. Aaron suggests that Randy stop by.
Jim returns to the Clark Construction job site and finds the floor joists all in place, and the first layer of sheathing was being installed. He asks Russ for a status report and learns that the exterior walls would be framed before lunch and that they would probably have the roof trusses up before the end of the day.
Jim talks to Bob and finds out that the Beach Boulevard project supervisor was asking for the use of the backhoe again. Jim asks Randy how to handle the requests, and Randy says that its not supposed to be used for anything that doesn’t add to getting the Clark Construction job completed.
The rest of the morning saw the floor sheathing being nailed into place, and two exterior walls framed before lunch. The third and fourth walls were up not long after the lunch break. The roof trusses that had been built the day before were lifted and nailed into place, with roof sheathing going on right after that.
The sun was setting as dinner was served, and a bonfire was started soon after. Once again, Jim and Rachel were among the last to be sitting around the dying coals, this time with a handful of others. “This has been a pretty spectacular day,” Rachel commented. “I mean, this morning there was nothing, and already it’s starting to look like a house.” Russ commented With the extra hands we did several normal days work here in one day, and it looks like we got a lot done. And, really, we did. There’s still a lot of work to do, and we’ll look like we make progress every day, but it won’t be the spectacular progress we saw today. The chapter closes with everyone calling it a night.
Also Mentioned
- Aunt Rita and Uncle John Fleming
- Roger Bishop and Catalina Smith from the book Cattail
- Joel Lancaster, mentioned only as as "Rachel's ex"
