Monster Commute – a Traffic Novel

My adolescent years were dominated by living on a farm.

I’d lived in the city until about age 14, when my mom and stepdad decided to move us into the country.

Once there, my stepdad loaned me out to other farmers, to stay busy and learn some responsibility. I bucked bales, repaired fences, and eventually drove tractors plowing fields and such.

Being a spacey kid who just wanted to play D&D, draw, and read Tolkien all of the time, I wasn’t all that focused on the art of driving, farming, or plowing.

I’d always forget to do things like releasing the emergency brake. On a car, this will prevent you from moving. On a tractor, it doesn’t do much at all, as it’s just made to keep the thing from rolling away.

I’d plow for hours, and then wonder why the body of the tractor was glowing cherry red when I’d hop down to take a (erm) break.

As you might imagine, my step-dad didn’t find much humor in this, which he’d communicate by socking me in the shoulder. Hey, he had to get my attention somehow I guess.

Can you imagine what it did for the fuel economy? The mechanics?

Good times.

- Daniel

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