Disclaimer: Any resemblances here to real people, places, institutions or events are purely coincidental. This is somewhat a work of fiction.

Fos the Rat continues...

A couple of weeks ago, I scurried over to one side of our mill, where the Big Things seem to be installing some new machinery. For this work, they have two new gates in the fence line of the facility, one for "union" workers and one for "non-union workers." As a rat, I don't understand this distinction, but quite frankly, there are many things the Big Things do I don't understand.

It happened to be pay day. This seems to be a day when the Big Things that work receive some sort of compensation for the work they have done. I don't know why, but I crawled up on top of the pay shack on the "union" side of the offices.

I peeked over the edge. The union Big Things were getting their paychecks (whatever that means). As two male Big Things walked away, one happened to look at the paycheck of the other.

"Hey," he said, "Yours is only half as big as mine. You worked a full week, just like I did. Why is that?"

The other one hung his head. In broken English he said, "I don't have documentation. They tell me I will be kicked out of the union and thrown off the site unless I accept half pay."

"Something is wrong here," the first one said.

Looking frightened, the second one remarked, "Please don't say anything. I am trying to save enough money to send for my wife and children. I need this job."

"Don't worry, I won't turn you in. But how do you live and save any money on half a paycheck?"

"My brother and I live in this old car he bought. We eat at 7 - 11. We can save quite a bit of money this way. I have already made two payments to the Coyotes and they say with one more they will bring me my wife and children."

First one responded, "I feel sorry for you man, I hope it all works out."