They wait and wait and wait
01
Overcast skies set off the lush and vibrant green of the earth next to the farmhouse of Roger Kreiger, standing out front ready for work, sleeves cut off of a blue t-shirt, worn down blue jeans, glasses hanging from the neck, faded baseball cap, gray hair poking out the sides—unwieldy, strong tanned arms, worn hands. Antique combine, gator, old truck off in the distance next to a barn alongside a sprawling oak tree.
02 - Victoria
How many folks are farming like you are now?
03 - Roger
Look over, deep breath, hands by sides, strong chest, slight stepping left right.
04 - Roger
I’d say probably less than ten percent.
05 - Victoria
Ok.
06 - Roger
Look left with eyes only, left hand raises up holding open palmed.
07 - Roger
You know, I mean, it it took off,
08 - Roger
Scrunch lips, face, twitch fingers, almost counting.
09 - Roger
back about five years ago we had 8 dollar corn,
10 - Roger
Turn head right, drop left hand slight bounce, open.
11 - Roger
which I’ve sold corn from a dollar and a quarter
12 - Roger
Both hands and body shift right.
13 - Roger
to eight oh six,
14 - Roger
Return left, raising left hand toward shoulder then drop to side, right hand to abdomen.
15 - Roger
now just a, just about two weeks
16 - Roger
Left hand recover in, repetitive slow shake at center.
17 - Roger
or three weeks ago it was rubbin four dollars,
18 - Roger
Diminutive wave open of hands.
19 - Roger
and now it’s about three twenty,
20 - Roger
Flick left hand in.
21 - Roger
three thirty,
22 - Roger
Push hands to right.
23 - Roger
they come out and said we’re gonna have a bumper crop and they just—
24 - Roger
Left thumb down, tilt head, body, recover to center holding.