‘So where are we going?’ Stevens asked, annoyingly, again.
‘Steel delivery,’ I sighed. ‘Picking up steel for the build site.’
‘But you’re not a driver,’ he frowned.
‘I’m aware.’
‘I’m not a driver either.’
‘I didn’t think you were.’
‘So why are we driving?’
‘I don’t know,’ I sighed. ‘Foreman’s orders, hard to argue with them.’
‘Hey, aren’t you supposed to be on lunch right now?’
My fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
‘Very hard to argue with.’
That seemed to shut Stevens up, at least for a little while, as I turned us onto the freeway. Not for the first time, I wished the truck’s radio wasn’t broken.
‘Who are these steel people, anyway?’ I finally asked, to break the silence.
‘Steel people?’
‘You know, the Melbourne steel fabricators we’re going to see right now. The ones the foreman just loves soooo much.’
‘Well,’ Stevens frowned. ‘They’re people who fabricate steel…’
‘Right.’
‘Around Melbourne.’
‘Okay.’
‘That’s it.’
‘That’s it?’
‘What more do you need?’
‘I don’t know,’ I sighed, ‘I was just… never mind.’
‘They do make the highest quality steel products around Melbourne though,’ Stevens mused to himself.’
‘See!’ I exclaimed. ‘That right there!’
‘What?!’ he asked, looking out of his window like he was about to miss something important.
‘Why does everyone keep telling me they’re so good?’
‘Because they are good,’ Stevens frowned. ‘Their steel is top quality.’
‘How can it be top quality? It’s just steel!’
‘Just steel?’ he shook his head. ‘I’m disappointed in you.’
‘Why?’
‘And you call yourself a steel delivery driver,’ his head continued to shake.
‘I don’t think anybody has ever called themselves a steel delivery driver.’
‘Well you certainly don’t deserve to call yourself a steel delivery driver.’
‘This conversation is pointless.’
‘You ever notice that most of our conversations feel pointless?’
‘What?’
‘Never mind,’ Stevens mumbled. ‘Let’s just go get our steel.’
I frowned at him – and pressed the accelerator a little harder.