Doug acted like a ship's captain. He slung a long rope skilfully over the flat bed, leapt up himself on the second attempt, threw a huge canvas in a heap with other gear. He then drew the rope over it several times, jumped off, made a truckers slip knot and applied tension. I watched as his bulging biceps looked as if they were about to tear the elastic of his shirt sleeve.
I wanted to say something but in the end just blurted out, "I hope you don't mind me coming along."
"Mind you coming along? Of course not. Why should I? Quite the opposite really. It's not every day I get this sort of company. You know what I mean."
I didn't actually but as I had just mounted the stairs into the cab I felt a bit intimidated by the size of it all and how high up we seemed to be. There would be plenty of time to get to know Doug.
"I didn't know you were hot on computers and that stuff as well." 'As well as what?' I wondered, but he had a point to make.
"You've got to tell me what's what with all these electrics because as far as I'm concerned we've got to get this bloody great bit of equipment on board. Make no mistake about it when the loading starts, I'm in charge right? That's all I mean, I just want you to know that."
"As far as I understand it I'm just coming along to make sure we collect all the controls for this milling machine and make sure they don't get damaged." I was a bit surprised by Doug's assertiveness with me. Especially as he was the one who persuaded me to come along.
"I'll do my best Doug" I added simply.
"Yea sure I'm just a type who likes to establish who's boss. You know you get used to it I suppose but when you're driving a truck like this, anything and everything that happens comes back to you. You know what I mean. I'm held responsible" I got the feeling Doug was putting on the tough act just to impress me.
He was one of the drivers we got to know from a local haulage company. Mostly they shifted milled barley and corn for animal feed but this was a special trip. We had to collect this large bit of stationary equipment which the boss had bought at an auction a couple of days earlier.
"You're new aren't you? I mean, I think it's a couple of months since you first made a splash here." He gave me a knowing glance with a trace of a smile. "And a 'straight out of college know-it-all', I expect" He continued provocatively.
"Give me a chance I've just done my first year, I've got another three to go. I only left school last summer. Anyway what are these other things you reckon I'm hot on apart from computers?" It seemed like a way to hot up the conversation.
"Oh well you're the one to know." he said trying to suppress a chuckle.
"Excuse me Doug. I don't know you all that well, but what the hell am I to make of that answer?" In fact I knew perfectly well what he was on about but why should I let him out of his own trap.
"Yea well how can I put it? Jason said something like, it's almost as if he'd got a chick as an assistant."
"Like so many of you guys he's full of gossip but hasn't got the balls to say something to your face. Anyway no one humps around 100 kilo sacks these days or any bags for that matter, its all elevators and augers so what's his problem?"
"It's all right handsome. Keep your hair on. I don't think he was exactly complaining you know." Doug couldn't really handle the dialogue.
"It's the same with all you drivers, you're big muscular guys, just look at your arms. Yet with this modern equipment you don't need to be so strong. You've got power steering, preselector gears, hydraulic cranes. A girl could do your work easily." I liked winding him up gently. There was something attractive in his effortless control of this hugely powerful vehicle, almost as if it were an extension of his own power. I guessed that was the way he saw himself.
"You are joking aren't you. OK you get some chicks as drivers but boy you wouldn't want to mess with them. Bossy boot types with huge thick arms, they are not my idea of a bit of fluff I can tell you. Anyhow why are you wearing a sweater on a hot day like this?"
I began to take off my sweater as if doing it obediently. I had a T shirt on underneath but as I pulled my sweater over my head it must have ridden up and exposed some of my bare chest.
"Hey watch out Doug, keep your eyes on the road man" Doug looked a bit sheepish as he had allowed the truck to veer slightly on to the hard shoulder. "I don't mind you looking at me but I suggest that we first pull into a parking place." I couldn't help feeling a bit flattered at the way Doug had reacted but I must admit my T shirt was a bit tighter than the ones I usually wore to work.
Doug drove on in silence for the next ten minutes. I was just beginning to regret allowing a situation which had embarrassed him when suddenly he drew into a large Lay By. I almost offered to take off more clothes but he immediately got out of the cab and went to inspect the wheels.
"Yes. I thought so. we've got a flat so that'll have to be changed right away."
"Good excuse Doug. I'll give you a hand." .
"What do you mean by 'good excuse'?'. You get yourself out of the way over there and leave all this to me."
"I thought you had a sort of truckers rescue thing for this. Surely they don't expect drivers to change wheels themselves." I suggested.
"Depends what sort of drivers you're talking about." he replied as he hauled out a large hydraulic jack.
"I'll leave it all to Muscle Man then" I said sitting on a nearby crash barrier. It seemed like a good moment to catch the sun so I took my shirt off. OK I was being a bit provocative I suppose. Perhaps I hadn't fully realised the effect Doug was having on me.
He glanced around then came over to me slowly with his eyes transfixed on my bare chest. "Carl you are fucking sexy" he said as he gently touched on my enlarged nipples and began to squeeze. Then as he made as if to kiss me he suddenly came to himself and began looking around furtively.
