"SECURE" Part 10 - The Mill

Arcelor Mittal

It seemed like I’d be doing their gatehouse duty which, according to this patrol guy, was pretty straightforward. Either someone has a pass to get in or they don’t. If they have a pass, let them in. He said there were a few gatehouses, not just one. So that had my curiosity peaked a little higher. He said three of the gatehouses had bathrooms, one had a portapotty (which I didn’t mind much since he said it had hand sanitizer), and thankfully from what I gathered it seemed like the staff here were nice people.

Now let’s talk about how my real first day at the mill went. First of my three on-the-job-training days. I was given a short sleeve blue uniform top with a silvery patch shaped like our badge.

I was in a gatehouse with this U.S. Navy veteran named Tom who seriously reminded me of my buddy Tom from the firehouse. Given the nature of our job, I was also given a few neon outer layers; pants (to go over my black ones, duh), a baggy vest with short sleeves, and a hard hat that wasn’t hard to wear at all. It was made of tough plastic and I had to get this rubber glow band around it.

“Having worn a fire helmet, this thing feels more like a toy.” I said rapping my fist on it.

I’m not gonna lie. Working at Gate Nine was pretty hectic. People had different types of passes, and I had to pay attention to that so I’d check them into this part of the mill properly. Thankfully they were different than the visitors at the retirement home, but these were people coming in and out of work. So the ones coming in, pretty sure, had an actual time punch they’d have to meet. The people leaving, thankfully, didn’t. They were just in a hurry to go, which I didn’t blame them for.

At least the second day was easier. Well, after a very anxious drive and driving all over the mill just to find the right gatehouse again. Anyway, Tom and I worked together pretty well during my first few days for my on-the-job training. I hit the point where during the last couple hours I was politely signing drivers out of the mill without breaking a sweat. So at least I got the hang of it, mostly.

The third day of my training was in what we called Gate Three with this guy Vick. Thank God it was right there at the entrance I’d been using to get in the place. Unlike the last one, Gatehouse Three was so small that it didn’t even have a water cooler and spigot. ‘Ah, there goes my coffee.’ I remember being surprised that the little bathroom sink was lopsided like it’d been yanked out of the wall.

At the end of the day I finally got my Friday-through-Tuesday schedule, having Wednesday and Thursday off. The tricky thing, though, would be manning the gatehouses alone. ‘No more training for me,’ I thought. ‘That phase is over. Just go to Gate Nine tomorrow, Gate Three on weekends, and do what you’ve been told these last few days.’

1500 - 2300 Hours

•         SUNDAY: Gate 3
•         MONDAY: Gate 9
•         TUESDAY: Gate 9
•         WEDNESDAY: (Day Off)
•         THURSDAY: (Day Off)
•         FRIDAY: Gate 9
•         SATURDAY: Gate 3

All 1500 to 2300 (meaning 3-11pm) shifts. This would be my schedule from now on. And I could still go to the Twin Valley firehouse on Thursdays! This particular Thursday I got to learn how to drive their ATV (having recently taken a seminar with the others), which gave me a pretty cool wake-up call from how tired I was.

Working as a gate guard all alone was definitely different than the last few days. But at least now I knew what to do and how to check people in. The passes for facility employees or contractors were different colors, so I knew which was which. There wasn’t much to it once I got used to the routine. There was only one landline I used it to check in every hour like I was supposed to. That counted reporting for the start and end of my shift.

Being alone for work gave me a relieving sense of peace and quiet. Since it was the later shift when most people were getting out of work instead of into work, a lot of time would go by between cars or trucks coming. Using my VUDU account I was able to watch movies on my iPhone. I’d been encouraged by the patrolmen to bring my phone and/or a book since this second shift went by pretty easily. So let’s just say I was really glad to of brought my phone charger. Otherwise my battery would’ve probably run out in just a few hours.

"SECURE" Part 9 - Wrapping up

With just about every security job I worked over the time I’d been in, especially back at Walmart pushing carts, I’d remind myself how it was a means to an end; till getting a full time job I really wanted. In a way that was true, but still there was another thing that occurred to me once in a while: EVERYTHING is a means to an end. I’d read the book of Revelation. Pretty much the whole world, I tell myself, is a means to an end. Sure, I hope that I won’t be on earth to see John’s visions come true. But still, most stuff in life is temporary and I had to make sure I remembered that. Soon as my decades in this world are up, I’ve told myself, I’ll have eternity in Heaven that I’m pretty sure is gonna make my human life seem like the blink of an eye.

Here’s a funny memory; it was Friday, my first week at Morphotek almost over. This day I was by the cafeteria and kitchen again watching the two doors from the corner. Now these guy’s uniform shirts were blue but (I guess since my jobs were so temporary) I only had my white one. Now when I walked in early enough as usual, with two guards plus our guy in charge of the place, this guy J. Berry pointed that out and the jokes started flying; “Wait he’s wearing white! So he’s our commander in chief...” (he said the white used to be for officers in charge as opposed to the blue). It was hilarious. At least that shift was more relaxing for me. The solitude plus the cameras being fixed on the doors (that’s what I’d gathered from yesterday behind the monitors) gave me a bit more freedom and I could pace the floor talking to myself if I felt like it. I also got to finish my HOBBIT graphic novel, which I was still sure was understandable since I was in one spot all day.

In the workplace it was always awesome to have free coffee in a kitchen right next to me. I didn’t work for or supply the place and didn’t care about what k-cups cost. Sure, I did try to cut back a bit on the coffee, but I took comfort in knowing I had zero responsibility for them (as opposed to the ones my mom uses at home with our Keurig; hence my staying with instant coffee at home) I liked being at the desk in that hallway a lot more than being in front of the monitors. I had more space and didn’t need to talk to anyone but me (and God). I did enjoy talking to myself, which included whispering pieces of movies and shows that just popped into my head.

On the upside, I did figure out how to play back camera footage when I was alone with this one employee. He was looking for someone who hit his car but unfortunately neither of us had time to finish that investigation. But hey, I figured out how the system worked.


It’s a curious thing, being impartial. Anyone else would probably call it a lonely thing but for me it's a relief. Ultimately the rules are the rules. Ask me to sign somebody into a place the right way, or to keep my eyes peeled for anything suspicious, I’m your man. Tell someone off for breaking the rules? You got it. I saw more good in it than bad, since I taking sides has become less and less appealing as I get older. Up to and including God’s commandments, I just want to stick with what is and what isn’t. God and country. That’s it. “I don’t make the rules. I just keep ‘em.”

Unfortunately my last day working security detail was a bunch of other people’s last day too. Disgruntled employees who were pissed off about it was what Jeff wanted me on guard for. Also watching for “piggybacking” where someone would swipe in and just let the next person in with them. Even with the sunshine I had a feeling it would be kind of a gloomy workplace. But thankfully it just felt like any other work day. My relieving officer came in around four, and I went home. And just like that, my days guarding Morphotek were over.

"SECURE" Part 8 - Morphotek

Monday, April 9th.

I was sitting in a corner with a rolling chair and desk, eyes open on both ends of the ninety-degree angle of hallway I was watching. It surrounded a kitchen and cafeteria, while behind me were office/conference rooms. I'd brought my journal and pens, plus snacks in a grocery bag. Right where I sat was by the kitchen so a couple times I seized the chance to use one of the Keurigs to make a mug of coffee.

This site was a pharmaceutical company called Morphotek Inc., where I'd be working for the next two weeks. Of course I was told by my boss here that it was going through changes including the name; Eisai. No idea why, but who am I to judge? I'm no businessman. And I'm not Japanese either.

The security detail was important especially because people worried over a disgruntled former employee. Unfortunately the only photo of the guy was taken ten years ago when he got hired. Anyway, the first day I was able (and expected, actually) to sit down and eat something from my pack in peace. I kept the photo of the former employee to see if I could use the info on it to look for him. Then maybe I'd know what to be on lookout for; if he'd lost weight, shaved his head, stuff like that. I never did find anything, but it kept the gears in my head turning so I wasn't really bored.

"It's a pretty cake job," I was told, though I was also sympathetically warned about my "desolation ultimate." But I told him I didn't mind being in that same spot at all. I figured if he heard me talking that truth for the rest of my time there then maybe I could get put there full-time.

I also, quite a few times over those days, went over to the building across the street and sat behind the desk with this secretary. I got to learn the security camera systems more thoroughly. I asked for that camera part, not my boss. He did, however, tell me to look through the employee handbook in this thick binder. During the time of talking with the secretary and watching the cameras, I read it all through.

Still, sometimes it was tough to avoid dozing off. I was afraid of being asked that stuff so I went for water and coffee throughout the day[s]. Luckily I didn't get 'interrogated' about it, but no way was going to say that I needed the caffeine to make sure I didn't fall asleep. So I spent time thinking of explanations like "I was thirsty and the cameras were still being watched." or "had to use the bathroom after all that water." Perfectly logical.

Being at the monitors felt like a whole other field, mainly since I couldn't talk to myself (it helps me think). But at least since this secretary was already on the job and was free to read a bit of her book now and then, I felt less nervous about having Beowulf with me to take notes on for a script. And of course, I did pay attention for anything weird on the monitors too. I mean, I didn't know anyone's duties of what this place's rules were, so... what? Wait till we get something like a P2 or a couple employees start fighting? So sometimes I think I paid too much attention, if such a thing exists in security work.

Now here's where it got interesting.
I was outside the building with my boss during a cloudy day, having just gotten off the phone with this lady for a full-time spot in Coatesville at a steel mill...