Request Stop – Sandra 59

 

[For a quick guide go here: Quick guide.]

[Old back story is here: Story so far at 30 Nov 2020 and read more recent Sandra episodes especially this one.]

[Other back story through in-links.]

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“It is very high up up here, isn’t it?” said Bill, mastering the understatement as usual.

“Surprised you people haven’t been in one of these before,” said Al whose truck it was. “Well, surprised and not surprised,” he said. “What with you being in management and such like.”

“Well, I’ve really only just joined the company,” said Sandra briskly. “I joined during lockdown so there was no way I could come and - experience - this.”

“And I,” said Bill, waiting for his excuse to materialise, “Just never had the opportunity.”

His speech fell as flat as he’d dreaded but there was nothing else for it. It was a fact. Office workers and drivers rarely mixed. Geography was the main reason for this, but there was always lack of enthusiasm mixed in too, just to make sure the geography barrier would never be overcome.

“So where are we going?” asked Sandra.

“Oh, you want to go somewhere?” asked Al. “Where do you fancy?”

He gunned the engine which immediately caused over excitement within both of his masked-up passengers. Gradually the lorry moved off from its standing position outside the depot, giving Sandra the impression of flying and Bill briefly reminded of and equally as briefly banishing from his mind, That Scene from Titanic. Even so it was all he could do to stop himself from exclaiming Leonardo DiCaprio’s line.

Al chuckled as he hauled the wheel round and joined the stationary traffic at the roadworks. Worked like this whenever he took someone for a spin. That something so natural for him could be so special for others. And hell, after everything it was just a truck. 

He had been driving for a fair few years. There had been a lot of changes he said but nothing like what he’d experienced in the last 12 months or so. Never mind Covid and Brexit, the whole culture had changed. Expectations among customers had shifted, his responsibility had grown and there were new rules and regulations to follow which, while intended to make his life safer and maybe easier, actually made everything more stressful.

“End of the day the whole thing is about delivering,” he said. “That’s what we live and die by isn’t it? Is it on time or did you fail? And it’s usually some bod sat in an office saying you can do something when in real life that thing is pretty much impossible. Those roadworks for example. How much time does it add on the journey? And does anyone actually notice apart from me?”

Bill speculated about the worth of having some ex-drivers in the office to keep everyone informed but Al didn’t reckon it would work. Drivers tended to stay driving and once you were sat behind a desk the reality of sitting behind a wheel became a dim and distant memory. 

“It’s a problem,” he admitted, “and it would be a good one to solve but...”

Sandra proposed keeping a diary of some sort or maybe checking in with head office on a regular basis. She offered to be the point of contact but Bill jumped in. “I’m the people person,” he said, enthusiastic for once, “I should talk to people. I do talk to people,” he added.

Sandra had put in a bid for the vehicle’s destination. It had occurred when she and Bill both shared reminiscences about wanting to be in a big lorry rather than a family car when they were being driven around with their families on holiday or just childhood trips. Al said he felt the same - why else would he be doing this now?

This led to their ultimate destination on this trip. If it was something they wanted to do when they were kids, why not do it for some kids now?

Frankie was still on the phone, but now standing outside the house with two kids going absolutely spare as a huge Epstein’s juggernaut lorry pulled up outside their house. They lived in a well to do neighbourhood which meant that the roads easily took a vehicle of this size and her neighbours easily didn’t like it when they did. Sandra scored Al extra points when the vehicle stopped with a hugely satisfying gush of air brakes and the two kids screamed harder. Sukie for sheer excitement and Freddie for sheer terror.

“And that’s how to make an entrance,” said Al.

“And that’s how to spoil your nephew and niece,” smiled Sandra, “while also annoying your sister.”

She exited the cab with her new found skill.

“Do you do children’s parties?” Bill asked Al.

“No, but I’m thinking yes,” said Al.