The Auroville Theatre Group:
The Woolgatherer

The image of a Truck driver.

Remember how it felt when you where driving the bike home from Mahaps ....kind of tired...no talking......

....now imagine there is a big truck around you....4m by maybe 12m (12 feet by 36 feet)....little control lights are in front of you behind the wheel, a huge wheel, which you have to watch... if one is going out, you have to stop for checking…...you are alone....you are tired....you are running against time....space is not so fast behind you like this time...stress....hot ….not to get mad you think of something nice...checking ones again all lights....there is this constant grey line in front of you...you are alone....only the white marks right and left are showing you - you are still on the road...a look in the mirror....cars are passing....the program in the radio is either to much talking or no nice music...makes you all nervous…..you are alone....you would like to speed up...but when one of those cops are catching you...you will lose hours...you are getting more nervous....still nothing nice in the radio...you are passing places where you usually stop…..no time!…...no small talk...no hello....just hitting mile after mile.....Trucks are passing you, some you know...you greet...you are alone again...Lights are okay....but diesel is running out....an occasion to take a six pack...maybe a sandwich.....a look on the watch...km board…still 40 miles to the next petrol station....landscape is running a side your eyes...only this straight road in front of you...grey...straight...your eyes are so tired of all this....you start singing...better then nothing....straight roads....still 30 miles....how you gonna hit them...you remember the nice waitress last stop...sweet smile....sexy eyes....the road....the lights....but you are alone here.... in the CB you hear that some Johnny crashed into a train...dead immediately....he was sleeping when he crashed...damn!...again one of us!....lights - are okay....the road continuous beyond your imagination...straight...passing a city....would be nice now to sit somewhere ...maybe in a bar...good talks.... nice girls....some good drinks....no chance!...no time!.....20 miles....outside it´s getting dark....more lights inside are getting on....you bend your back...it hurts...12 hours you are already on the road...no pause....you wanna stretch your legs...not possible, not now....you know you don´t will make it in time....damn!.... but you are tired like anything....your eyes are hurting, your legs, your back....empty stomach....what a live!.....you speed up a bit...just a little bit...on CB you ask with the secret code if any cop is on your way....nope the weather is clear and sunny...great...a bit more speed....10 miles...lights are okay.......yeah a zip of beer and some cheese sandwich will make the world great again....straight road… more black now...all black now....passing another board ...oh damn what happened....shit the reverse gear control lamp...now?.... hey I have bananas...no, no, no!....okay here we are....shit! damn shit!...why... speed goes down…. slowly stopping…., getting out ……checking....damn!....it´s damn true…….....okay, then...that´s it...chance done...damn,....bloody reverse gear....okay where am I?...Phili...okay!...I get in! quick fixing and hit faster then before...okay forget it!....anyway....getting in the reg again,…. now you are fully awake.....going on…....destiny Phili...narrow roads...plenty of traffic lights, curves, corners...the huge truck runs on its search for a mechanical...it will take ages….damn bloody shit!.....okay..there is one, yes!...gotta in...4 hours they say...okay!...4 hours!...no shit FOUR hours!..... Make a call,…yeah…it´s kismet…no chance …will try to make good miles after….

Five and Dime next door....lets hit those damn four hours here....

Text by Sonja