Mines get hot as hell once you get down the bottom of the drift, but not near as suffocatin as further in where the vein’s runnin. It’s hard work, but good work if you can get it. They say a miner, he either got the nose for it or he don’t. And the one’s that do, well, they got themselves a job for life. Me, I got the nose. The crew I’m on, they follow where I say to go. I tell the crew boss I think the vein’s runnin over there in that direction, then that’s the direction we dig. Don’t fool yourself, there’s skill involved, plenty of it. Ain’t easy swingin a pick axe all day long. Quartz reef minin ain’t for everyone. Most men go bat-shit-crazy just thinkin ‘bout bein this far underground. Not me though, me and the crew I’m on, we climb in that bucket every day, head down here, do our job, and collect our pay; no bitchin, no fightin – no problems for the crew boss means no firin. You gotta trust these men to have your back, without that trust; too many of us never see the surface again. I ain’t planning to be one of ‘em. You think the corporation give a shit, they don’t. A man dies down here, the suits give his wife just barely enough to feed herself and her babies for a month, maybe less – it’s disgustin. But everybody wants to keep their job, so we don’t say nothin. The crew bosses, they’re alright though, they take up a small collection, then they make up the difference from their own pockets. They go ‘round every week or so, make sure everybody is healthy and eatin. It’s like a family, nobody talks ‘bout it, we just do it. I just hope it don’t pinch-out ‘for I do.
© Copyright 2014 Nina D’Arcangela. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome to my April AtoZ Blog Challenge post! I hope you enjoyed my ramble, and come back for more! Don’t forget to visit the other bloggers participating by clicking on the badge to the right, or simply using this link. :}
Nina D'Arcangela
Sotet Angyal 
April 19th, 2014 at 11:45 am
You capture the voice of the narrator so very well…another fine piece IMHO.
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April 19th, 2014 at 11:54 am
Thank you! I love this piece, I love the voice – stepping outside of ‘me’ is part of the fun of writing these smaller pieces. I’m so happy that you liked it!! (I think I have to adopt you, you’re so kind to me!) 😀
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April 19th, 2014 at 2:15 pm
hey so you are around lurking — I agree – the voice is terrific – we took a tour of a mine once – no place I’d want to be
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May 20th, 2014 at 1:50 pm
I went no where during April… trust me! lol I’m glad to know you enjoyed this one, Sue. I love mines, caves, crevasse, pretty much any place ‘most’ people don’t go. Thank you on the voice, I wanted it to sound ‘everyday Joe’ – I hope I succeeded. I think I did. :]
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April 19th, 2014 at 3:04 pm
Loved it! Have you see the YouTube Video of the Crystal Caves in (I think)Mexico? #AtoZchallenge ☮Peace ☮ ღ ONE ℒℴνℯ ღ ☼ Light ☼ visiting from http://4covert2overt.blogspot.com/
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May 20th, 2014 at 1:55 pm
Thank you! I don’t know if I’ve seen the YouTube video, but I’ve seen plenty of documentary footage! Thanks for dropping in!! 🙂
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April 24th, 2014 at 9:19 am
Hi Nina! I’m trying to catch up on my reading, so apologies that I’m getting to this late…but oh my! What a treat for me! I loved ‘QUARTZ!!’ The voice you employ here is superb! It seemed to read as a much larger piece of prose than what it really is; I think it’s because I got swept away by your narration (and that’s a good thing!). Every single post you have crafted thus far for the A-Z Challenge has kept me guessing; this is no different. Great job, NIna!! 🙂
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May 20th, 2014 at 1:58 pm
Thank you very much, Joe! I enjoyed writing this one. Having some knowledge of mining towns and communities, I was very engrossed in this particular write. I guess that came through in the piece. Thank you again for the kudos!! 🙂
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