Trying for Truth Short Story

About the struggles of workers at an American clothing company, and their endurance against modern globalization and consumption trends.  Enjoy.

Trying for Truth

        Lew Harvey settled down on his milk white rocking chair, looking off to the horizon from his porch.  The setting sun cast its remaining rays over the vegetable garden; as a sign of things to come.  Harvey was in an insecure job at United Clothing, a local factory in Oklahoma.  Profits were down for this corporation, and trying to boost public support for their business seemed futile.  Although there was a growing demand for American made clothing, a great number of people wouldn’t think twice about buying the fifteen dollar jeans at Sears.  Harvey, like all his colleagues working in the factory, wasn’t in control of his future.  How could anyone be in times like these? 

       

At forty three years old, Harvey lived alone on his small ranch home.  Just him and Bello, his lab roamed the estate.  Marriage hadn’t occurred to Lew at this point, because he didn’t want to force anyone into these conditions.  First on his list was to obtain sound financial security.  A sure way of reaching this was to effectively promote American-made products.  Harvey grabbed his laptop and began to write:

 One should use their dollars wisely.  Where they spend money determines which jobs will stay and which will leave.  If, for example, one decides to consistently buy imports at big box stores, they’ve more or less assured that the demand for imports will rise as local, regional and national employment is chipped away.  Our economy is subject to constant insecurity as a result of business practices valuing profits above all.  This is a tragic betrayal of our core values when we supported our resources and manufacturing.  How’d we get so lost?  The answer largely lies in who currently holds power.  The financial elites and the politicians they lobby have blinded themselves to reality.  Their warped view of reality consists of endless consumption and growth at all costs.  The “Too big to fail” mantra is too big for its britches.  In return, the poor, working and now even middle class have been subject to a beast they can no longer tame; for it has turned against them.  What exactly happens at these elite gatherings?  The average American can’t be sure, due to the lack of open and honest public discourse.  We must change our frame of thinking on critical issues affecting us each day.  Pundits spewing out of hatred, only to deceive people should be ignored just as MSM ignores those outside of the duopoly we call a two-party system.  This is the moment to embark on a new trail of discourse.

          

He sent it to the local paper and backed away from his computer with a sense of optimism.  If local manufacturing became a prescient issue in public debates, there was a good chance of a turnaround.  Yet, at the same time, he knew there wasn’t much leeway.  If this factory left, it left for good; and workers across the nation were in a similar boat.  Bello looked up at Lew and he patted his head.  “Don’t dogs like you have it good”, he said to himself before going to bed. 

        

Harvey awoke with the same sense of optimism that he had before sleeping.  As long as there were people like him willing to enact meaningful change, there existed reason to be hopeful.  He walked to the kitchen, making himself a bagel and a soft-boiled egg.  At seven he would begin the drive to work to perform tasks he’d been doing for ten years.  Lew thought about how he loved his job, how his friends felt the same way and how it could now all disappear.  Instead of letting these thoughts discourage him, he used them as a valid reason to work even harder.  After a satisfactory breakfast, Harvey retrieved his black wind jacket and went out the door.  The electric-blue Ford Focus in his driveway reminded Lew of his efficient and practical nature.  Rarely buying more than he needed, Harvey tried his best to live sustainably.  Even though his means were low, he lived beneath them. 

        

The roads weren’t busy, but had a regular flow of traffic.  Business professionals, farmers and agricultural workers and the occasional storm chaser vans could be seen on any given day.  Fields lay just beyond the roads where staple crops like corn, tomatoes, beans and squash could were within view of travelers.  The crops did well until recently, when unusually high temperatures and dry conditions resulted in shortages.  Harvey remembered what his father said when he told him he’d love to be a farmer.  “Son, the farmer is the ultimate risk-taker.  Mother Nature is essentially uncontrollable, especially around here.  You could grow a great abundance of food one season, only to have a tornado or drought leave you empty next time.”

       
This was true for farmers, but fortunately not in regards to his situation.  Although the business climate was highly unstable, it could be subject to proper control.  This was the goal much of the American working class hoped to achieve.  Harvey pulled into the spacious parking lot, surrounding the bustling factory.  Although he arrived fifteen minutes early, some workers had clearly already begun, and still more were entering.  The workers sought to produce the maximum output that they were capable of.  Although their rewards were sparse and hard won, their collective spirit was untestable.  Most operated as one unit, having ten years or more of work experience behind them.  Efficiency and practicality was their pride.  Their sense of unity and breadth of common ground put them on equal footing as brothers.  Lew was greeted by the Stephen, the General Manager upon entering.  He gave a friendly smile, “Good morning, Stephen.”  “Lew, it’s always great to see you, how are things going?”  “Right now things are going just fine, but we both know how everything can change on a dime.”  “Yes, but it is good men like you who keep wonderful operations like these going.”  “I appreciate it, boss.”  Lew wasn’t very fond of Stephen.  He, along with all the other workers knew that, should things turn worse, their GM would take his hefty sum of cash and retreat elsewhere without looking back.  Their real hope was not to reach the point where that would occur.  If success somehow continued in United Clothing, their enduring hours would be more than worth it. 

        

Harvey went over to his stitching area, joining longtime friend and colleague, Matthew Fisher.  “Hi Lew, how are you?”  “I’m ok; any day with good quality work is good enough for me.”  “I hear you; twelve years of working here, and never in that time did I experience a comforting sense of job security.”  “Funny you mentioned that, I just wrote a piece about why we’re stuck in this mess, and how to potentially overcome it.”  They carefully began threading the seams of the blue jeans as conversation ensued.  “You know Lew, I’d bet that if the Mass Media covered the plight of workers like us across the nation, if they faced our current manufacturing problem honestly, we’d be on much higher ground.”  “I agree Matt, but the money isn’t in their favor to do that.  Morals and money simply don’t mix well at all.”  “We need to really show people across the spectrum that we matter, and that our fight is as significant to them as it is to us.” 

        

They sewed the jeans throughout the day, discussing what should be done and how it could make a difference.  At six thirty, the workers exited to a setting sun on the horizon.  Its rays casted a red sky as far as the eye could see.  Harvey talked with Matt as they headed to their cars; “Well, we’re doing our part, let’s hope fate is on our side.”  “That we must, take care of yourself, Lew”  “I will, Matt, see you in the a.m.”  Harvey entered his Focus and exited the parking lot onto the fairly open main road.  Driving home, he pictured United Clothing as successful a factory as any major marketing or financial firm was today.  The worry that would be lifted from worker’s backs.  The comfort in knowing one has a sure and honest source of employment.  These were imaginations, but they weren’t utopian, and they should be taken seriously as a means to help the growing insecurity in today’s workforce. 

        

The setting sun took its heat away, sinking beneath the grey clouds.  Harvey held his jacket tight as he headed inside.  Bello greeted him, jumping up on his knees and wagging his tail.  “Hey boy, how’s it going?”  Lew poured a scoop of dog food in Bello’s bowel.  “Enjoy”.  He took of his jacket and shoes and turned on the evening news:

       

“Don’t count out globalization”, a broad caster said.  “Although some critics denounce it as unfavorable to workers, experts insist it has essential values.”  Here’s John Howard, CEO of Renew Electronics:

          “We must consider the amount of wealth that globalization has brought to us.  It’s allowed our company to grow beyond even my high expectations.  To put it simply: without modern globalization, we’d be lost.”

          “But we, the American workers, would be able to find the sense of security which we sought for all these years.”  Harvey shut the TV off in disgust.  “Mainstream media”, he said aloud, “may you systemically change your rationale from narrow and profit-driven to inclusive and honest journalism.”  Harvey changed into his pajamas and went to sleep, once more hoping for better days ahead. 

Raindrops collided against the roof and windows, in a soothing melody.  Lew may have awoke to a rainy day, but something important made him feel like he shone bright.  Checking his email, the newspaper responded that it would publish his piece.  “This should allow our cause to align with growing support among the general public”, he said.  Entering the kitchen, he made a vegetable omelet with onions, red peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes.  Fresh aromas quickly filled the house as the food sizzled on the stove.  Bello eagerly sat, eyes shifting from the omelet to Harvey and back again.  When it was ready, he threw a small piece to the dog and leisurely ate the rest. 

       

 Driving to work, Lew observed the fields blanketed by the rain.  “After constant struggle amongst the heat, rain provides chance for regrowth and repair.  Hopefully such will be the case for workers fighting passionately to achieve a sense of worth and security.”

        

Upon entering United’s facility, Harvey walked to his stitching area.  Matt had already begun sewing some jeans.  “It’s always good to get an early start on your job”, he said walking over.”  Matt smiled looking up, “It’s how I function at my best, something which you should know a lot about.”  “Well, I do what I’m reasonably capable of, whether I’m the best at it is easily debatable.”  “We both know who goes the extra mile, Lew.  No one takes initiative like you, and frankly, we’d be a lot worse off without you.”  “I appreciate it, Matt, but don’t underestimate the value of yourself and the workers around you.  Without your contributions, this life as we know it wouldn’t exist.  Fortunately, my article got accepted to the local paper, so it should help our cause.”  Matt was ecstatic, “Wonderful Lew!  I say we’ll soon be able to put this issue behind us.”  “I sure hope so, because this is something we’ve been striving towards for too long.” 

       

 Fisher and Harvey worked comfortably, but persistently throughout the day, listening to the raindrops clashing with the rooftop and window panes.  Within their hours lied the hope that sunnier days awaited them.  By the end of the day, they knew this work was not in vain.

       

 Lew headed for his car and began driving home.  The steel-grey sky hung itself over the highway like laundry hanging over the grass to dry.  When he got home, Harvey began typing up informational flyers about the importance of preserving United Clothing’s factory:

        To Whom It May Concern,

         

          The undersigned are workers at United Clothing’s factory who

          try to support American jobs wherever and whenever possible. 

          Unfortunately, this has become a strenuous burden in trying to

          compete with foreign outsources that sell for prices well below

          our range.  The convenience and affordability too often drive

          American workers like us out of business.  We firmly believe

          in preserving our domestic manufacturing bases, which have

          already undergone rapacious assault from overseas competition.

          We hope that you feel this way also.  If you do, we ask that you

please show your support at our board meeting open to the public next week at 6:30 pm on Saturday.  Furthermore, we encourage you to vote with your dollars and buy American wherever possible.  By working together we can protect a system

that’s helped countless of families over the years.  Hope to see you with us.

        Lew called up his closest colleagues and read them the letter before adding their names to it.  They also discussed plans to meet up tomorrow after work to distribute them.  Harvey then printed out a hundred copies and stacked them on his desk before going to bed. 

       

                    The sun weakly penetrated the mass of grey clouds, but it was enough to wake Lew.  He slowly arose and stretched his arms, releasing a generous yawn in the process.  With over an hour and a half until work, Harvey dressed, grabbed the stack of letters and began to distribute them.  Each one represented a potential ally for their cause.  Money may not be on the side of United Clothing’s employees, but steadfast determination abounded.  Increased support also appeared in direct proportion to this rising spirit.  As the workers petitioned more of society, their ranks swelled with new recruits.  Each one knew that anything less than passionate disapproval of current trends would be futile.

        

As he drove around the community, Lew felt assured that as long as he and others continued actions like these, hope could grow.  He was friendly with a significant portion of his neighborhood, and didn’t rule out the possibilities ahead. 

       

 After distributing the letters, Harvey pulled in his driveway to find the morning paper at the edge.  Sure enough, on the front page, his article began.  “Awesome; a lot of people must feel like us” he exclaimed.  Inside, Harvey made himself a bagel with cream cheese and chives, before going to work.  He washed it down with orange juice, giving him an energetic start to the day.  The sun’s glow lightly illuminated fields of spring and summer crops and the roads.  As Lew navigated the familiar path to work, he felt moved by the progress towards their cause.  Upon entering the building, his boss Stephen congratulated him on the article.  “Lew, I’m glad to see your article on the front page.  I have no doubt our cause will be advanced.  You’ve had a big stake in this and should be proud of yourself.”  “Thank you very much” Harvey said shaking his boss’s hand.  Lew detected that Stephen didn’t care as much as he seemed to; nonetheless he was proud to have any praise and support that came his way. 

        

Matt Fisher had not yet arrived at their sewing station, so Harvey made a small pile of jeans and picked one to start with.  Carefully threading the needle through the seams, Lew focused his eyes and steadied his hands.  Sewing jeans had become part of Harvey’s routine.  Though he was much more skilled at it now than when he started, Lew nonetheless took the same care as he did from day one.

        

Harvey was halfway through his first pair when Matt came up to greet him.  “Lew, with much thanks to you we’re riding strong momentum against our contradicting forces.”  Lew smiled, “I’m not about to make any sacrifices that’ll certainly lead to our decline.  Rest assured, I will see this through to completion.”  “We will see this through to completion, Lew.  You’re certainly not alone in this fight.”