That’s How They Get You

We were on salary,
because what else was there,
other than maybe
working the corn fields;
kid down the street told me
you could get $300
if you did a good job
six days a week
for the whole summer.
So, we were on salary,
getting up at 4:30,
the job wasn’t over
until it was over,
which was usually
somewhere around 9pm.
Every now and then,
you’d get a break in the middle
to go crash out in your tent,
but those green canvas flaps
never really kept the light out.
We were on salary,
so it didn’t matter much
that we were fourteen,
and usually working
sixteen hours a day,
six days a week.
On my one day off,
I’d crash on my leaky waterbed
in my unfinished basement,
and wouldn’t wake
until time to go back.
When I could find the time,
I’d roll my dying station wagon
to the grocery store,
hoping I wouldn’t get busted
for only having a learner’s permit,
and cash in my check.

We were on salary,
and we were fourteen,
and we didn’t know much else,
so when the girl behind the counter
handed me my $75
for a 96 hour workweek,
I felt like the richest man in the world.

James Benger is the author of several books of poetry and prose. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Writers Place, and on the Riverfront Readings Committee. He is the founder of the 365 Poems in 365 Days online workshop. He lives in Kansas City with his wife and children.