first day at work

it's hot
in this coal mine.
you tell
your work mate
jimbo, on your
first day
on the job. it's
hot as hell in here,
you say, taking
out a grey
handkerchief
to blow your nose.
jimbo looks at you
as your head lamp
hits him
in the face.
hold still you
tell him, hold still,
you have a smudge
on your face,
it's black,
it might be coal
or something.
you wipe his
face and pick up
your shovel.
why is it so hot
in here, you
ask him,
as he swings his
pick axe
at a wall.
wouldn't it be
cool if we found
some diamonds in
here. he stops
whacking at the wall
to look at you.
let's make a pact,
you tell him,
if either one of
us finds some diamonds,
we won't tell
anyone and split
the money? okay?
jimbo shakes his head,
and goes back
to hitting the wall,
but harder now,
like he's mad at
the world.
jim, jimbo. yo,
my man, what time you
got. I'm starving.
isn't it close
to lunch time?