I open my book and start to read. The words are a blur on the page as I try to keep my eyes on my book instead of looking at the cameras. Rose comes out and sets a tray of cookies and tea down for me. She smiles and grips my shoulder and I hold her hand briefly and try to keep the tears from falling. She is so kind. She pats my shoulder one more time and leaves.
Danny comes over and looks at his watch.
“The delivery will be here in 10 minutes. The boss says he wants it to be put there.”
He points to the spot below my window. I close my book and stand up, walking over to where Danny pointed; I walk over to the side of the house and the small forklift will fit in between the house and the tree line.
I walk over to Danny and gesture with my hands, height, and width.
“Fucked if I know. It’s heavy is all he said.”
I nod and go back to my lounge chair and take a sip of tea. My mouth is dry, and my hands are shaking so badly and when I put the cup down it rattles on the saucer. Danny looks me over and turns back to the patio, talking on his phone. He comes back and gestures for me to get up.
“It’s here.”
I walk over to the side of the house; I can hear the truck’s brakes squeal, the loud banging of the back doors slamming into the side of the truck. It is a familiar sound. I have been there for every project we have ever received, and a calm comes over me. This is second nature to me.
The rumbled sound of the forklift starts, and the telltale beep, beep of it backing up. The box appears around the corner and the heavy plywood case is about 5 feet tall and about 5 feet wide. Perfect.
I direct the operator where to place it, and he sets it down, climbs out, and grabs the slings. The statue will have to be lifted out and placed on the ground. We pop open the top of the case and I pull the foam wrapping off, tossing it to the ground. I’m excited to see what he purchased, and the need not to throw up because I don’t know how I’m going to climb in this box without being seen.
I pull the top portion of the wrapping off the statue and my heart breaks all over again. I know that set of curly, long hair. Motioning for the operator to hand me the slings. Anna made sure she put the lift on so it would be easy to lift out. That girl thinks of everything. I clip the sling and jump down. I nod at the operator, and he slowly lifts her out.
Girl with Book.
It’s not a large piece, but she is beautiful. She holds a book in her hands as she sits crossed legged on the grass, flowers around her, her hair off to one side laying across her shoulder, teeth biting her finger as she reads. The artist is amazing. And I can’t help but run my hand over her face. I tear up all over again. She is perfect.
Danny’s phone rings, and he answers it. I pick up the packing, tossing what I can over the top. The operator comes over and takes my hand.
“I’ll put the top on. There’s a side panel that opens, just stuff itall in there.”
I nod and breathe a sigh of relief. Holy shit, holy shit! This is going to work.
I walk around the yard gathering up the huge wads of plastic and white foam wrapping. I stuff some in and go back over to the statue and take the stuff from around her base.
Danny is still on the phone.
I walk over and tap him on the shoulder and point to my room and mouth. I’m going to my room. He nods and puts his finger in his ear to drown out the noise of the forklift, and he turns his back to me. But I have to make sure the cameras do not see me. I bundle the wrapping in my hands and make my way around the wooden crate. I put some wrapping in and bend down, grab another bundle off the ground and sidestep to the open hatch.
I put my leg in and duck under; bring my other leg in and bury myself in the foam. I dig till I feel the wooden bottom and lay as flat as I can, piling more foam on top of me. I’m sweating and I can feel my heartbeat in my ears. The operator stuffs more packing in and shuts the door, locking me in.
It’s dark, almost black except for the few holes letting in the afternoon light. The crate shakes and groans as he puts the forks in the pallet, lifting me off the ground. I cover my mouth with my hands. I’m scared to breathe. We bounce for a bit and the ride is smooth. We are in the driveway. I cross my fingers.
The box goes higher and then I’m loaded into the back of the truck. The engine cuts off and I hear the operator jump down, making the truck shake. Doors slam and I’m in total darkness.
We did it.
Tears run down my face, flooding my ears, but I don’t wipe them. I still have to get out of the gates and then I’m free. The truck roars to life and we move. I brace my hands on either sideof the crate to steady myself on the bumps. We come to a stop.
The gate.
I hear voices, some shouting and I panic. The engine cuts out and I can hear the driver slam his driver’s door. The back door opens, and I hold my breath as I feel the truck shake as he climbs in.
“Where is it?” I can hear Danny’s angry voice, and my heart drops out.
The operator bangs around the outside of the crate, and I can see his shadow outside the access panel.
“Got it.”
