by Tom Molnar

Duke, already annoyed by getting yet another unfair dispatch (according to Duke, of course), is becoming increasingly upset with two drivers somewhere on the road who have been talking on channel 19 for what seems like ever. Obviously they are going in Duke’s direction because they’re not fading away. Now sometimes, this isn’t so bad, provided they’re talking about something Duke has an interest in. Like women, or maybe dispatcher bashing. Eavesdropping on this stuff is cool. Anything else is an annoyance and needs to be dealt with. So……

"Hey!", Duke casually exclaims as he keys up his mike. "How ‘bout you guys grab a private channel and give the rest of us a break. I’m tired of hearing about your pickup trucks."

"Why don’t you mind your own business, driver," the voice retorts. "Are ya mad because we got here first? Last time I checked, the air waves were free. If ya don’t like it, don’t listen."

"Whoa", Duke thinks. "I’m not looking for a war here."

Duke pauses for a minute, then says, "No need to get testy there brother. I just don’t think it’s proper for you to hog the hello channel for miles and miles so no one else can talk. That’s all."

A short silence followed. Then…

"Well lah-de-dah", says the voice. "Mr. big strapper thinks we’re improper. Well, whadaya think Bill, shall we go to 35?"

"Gone", says the other voice.

And then there was silence.

* * * *

As the night drags on, Duke pours his last cup of coffee from his thermos. He’s listening to Art Bell, and tonight the guest is Richard Hoagland. As a result, Duke is yawning a lot, because Richard, while interesting, takes any 10 minute story and converts it to an all-night audio tome. The truck hits a bump, the thermos strays from its position over the cup, and hot coffee sprays on the floor -- and Duke’s leg.

"Dammit!" Duke curses. Then he chuckles and thinks "I should sue."

As he passes an ‘on-ramp’ and moves to the left to allow the entering truck room to merge, a voice comes over the CB.

"Hey Duke, is that you?"

Duke puts his cup back in its holder, reaches for the CB mike, brushes his cigarette sending a shower of ashes all over his pants, keys up, and says, "Yeah buddy. Who we got there?"

"Hey it’s Willy", the voice says. "Remember me from ICX? We used to work local together. I heard you were at BS and thought I’d take a chance. Fancy meeting you out here…."

"Well I’ll be", Duke exclaims. "Man, how long’s it been? Who are you running for? I didn’t notice your truck as I passed ya."

"Aw, just some mom and pop food distribution outfit. They pay good though, and I’ve even got bennies -- and this nice rig. I run up and down the coast here. Got a set run, set stops, set pickups, set everything. Not bad. I guess it’s been a good eight years since I saw you."

Duke drags on his cigarette, blows the smoke out towards the slightly opened window and says, "Boy, what a shocker. You’re about the last person I expected to see out here. I thought you were still back in Chicago. When did you move out here?"

"Oh, ‘bout two years ago. I got tired of all those people, all that humidity, and all that hustle bustle."

"Boy, I heard that, I did", says Duke. "Are ya still married?"

"Naw, I had to let her go. She was holding me back."

* * * *

Thirty minutes later, the old buddies are still carrying on……..

"……And then I told him there’s no way I’m gonna take that dispatch. I stood my ground and since I was right, he finally gave in and I got the dispatch I shoulda got in the first place. Ya gotta stand your ground with these guys or they’ll walk all over ya". Duke says as he explains to Willy how to handle dispatchers.

"You’re right, Duke", says Willy. "Over the years I’ve found that if…….."

* * * *

A Dick Simon driver, who is following in the same direction as Duke and Willy, is quickly becoming fed up with this droning conversation. Finally, he reaches up, grabs his microphone and says, "Hey, you guys wanna grab a private channel. This $#@*& is getting old!!"