Sam

Sam pulled on the steel-toed boots waiting
dutifully at the side door.

The crushed rock driveway crunched in protest under the weight of Sam's feet. The black, four by four pick-up truck roared to life as the key turned in the ignition.

Within a few short turns, the pick-up truck had entered the two lane highway through town. The traffic was light at this time of the day. With the windows rolled down, Sam could hear the hum of the vehicles zipping by; the cold air awakening Sam quicker than any jolt of caffeine could.

It was another crisp, early morning and the sun was just peeking out from the horizon. Four o'clock mornings had become part of Sam's routine as a hard rock miner in a small one- industry town.

Sam's dark brown eyes caught the reflection of the truck skimming across the lake as it rounded the bend in the highway.

Lonergran's News came into view. Sam signalled and pulled off the road. There were others already milling around eagerly awaiting the gossip of the day to go along with their cup of tea.

"Sam," Terry greeted."How are you today?"

"I'm doing well. Has the paper arrived?" Sam inquired of Terry Lonergran.

"It's over there." Terry pointed to the unopened stack tenuously perched atop the kettle.

Sam unbundled the newspapers and quickly scanned the headlines to see if anything newsworthy happened in the town. It hadn't.

"I heard you went fishing last night. Did you catch anything?" Terry nosily inquired.

"Oh yeah. I caught a big mouth bass. A five pounder but I threw it back. I wanted to make sure there would be some left for you!" Sam teased.

"Where abouts do you go?" Terry prodded.

"You know a fisherman never reveals his fishing hole. What makes you think I would tell you?" Sam winked mischievously.

"Never hurts to try. Just the newspaper and tea today?" The cash register sprang to life as Terry began ringing up the purchases.

"Yes the usual. I'd love to stay and chat but I don't want to be late for wok." Sam was rarely late for work and had no intention of starting a new habit.

With the newspaper tucked securely under Sam's arm, a mouthful of tea, a nod of farewell was all that could be mustered as Sam left the store.

Sam jumped back in the vehicle and continued past the old familiar sites: the pharmacy, grocery store, church, school and community center. So many things in the town never changed. It was amazing to have memories in each of these buildings having grown up in South Bend.

As Sam drove closer to the entrance of the mine, a chuckle erupted from deep within. "Only in this town." Sam uttered aloud.

The four o'clockers, as Sam nicknamed them, were waiting on the crest of the hill as they did every Wednesday. They eagerly anticipated the big blast the mine would detonate before the beginning of the new shift each and every Wednesday.

The four elderly gentleman would perch atop their walkers waiting for the impending blast. Afterwards, they would shuffle over to the coffee shop to compare the intensity of this blast to the previous week's. Upon sufficient chin wagging, they would make their way home till next Wednesday when once again they would meet up at the same time, same place.

Sam pulled into the mine property parking lot, grabbed the lunch pail, newspaper, and tea.

Today was going to be a great day! She could feel it. She loved all the nuances that made South Bend home; the familiarity of it all but most of all the people.