Chapter 5 - Page 55 - Building A Village

   Jackie stayed the night in Jim’s trailer. Both men were awakened in the early morning by the sound of trucks driving onto the construction site. By six o’clock all the workers had arrived and by six-thirty, the site was bustling with activity, as it had been on Saturday.

   Later Jim and Jackie walked around the job site, talking to construction workers. When Jim mentioned to one of the foremen that he was looking for a car to buy, a young black man overheard and eased over to speak to Jim.

   “Boss man,” he said, “I know someone that has a jeep for sale.”

   “That’s what I need,” Jim replied. “I might have to go pick up sick people sometimes. They could be in places that are hard to reach.”

   “It’s a real nice jeep,” the man went on, “and he has a fair price on it.”

   “Good enough. Where can I find him?”

   “Boss man, he works for the Roby Sacks Lumber Company. You can find him there until seven o’clock tonight.”

   “What’s his name?” Jim asked.

   “Everyone calls him Shorty. He works in the shipping department.”

   Jim didn’t know where the Roby Sacks Lumber Company was, so he asked Jackie if he knew.

   Jackie replied, “Everyone around here knows where the lumber company is.”

   “Can you take me over there?”

   “Sure. Are you ready to go now?”

   “Whenever you are, Jackie.”