I have absolutely no idea where the idea for this came from but I think it makes it’s point. First published in Headlock magazine.
 

 
I
Nine o’clock on a Friday morning in April, it is raining hard. Two young pigs, jammed together on the top deck of a livestock transporter are within five miles of an abbatoir and certain death. They are lean, healthy, longback sows who have spent the last two years of their entirely blameless lives in a muddy field overlooking the M6 in Staffordshire.
They are happy to be out of the rain.

II
Ten o’clock on a Friday morning in April, it is raining. Two young people, jammed together on the top deck of a number 27 bus are within five miles of Tescos and certain bacon. They are fat, unhealthy, morons who have spent the last eighteen years of their entirely useless lives on a housing estate overlooking the M6 in Staffordshire.
One turns to the other.
“Shit of a life, isn’t it?.” “Yeah, it’s a shit of a life all right.”

III
Eleven o’clock on a Friday morning in April, it is drizzling and grey. The remains of two dead pigs are rattling along a conveyor belt towards the packing station.
Two packers are shouting to each other above the roar of machinery.
“Shit of a job, isn’t it?.” “Yeah, it’s a shit of a job all right.”

IV
Eleven thirty on a Friday morning in April, it has stopped raining and a pale sun is shining from a pale blue well washed sky. Two vacuum packs of bacon are rattling along in a shopping trolley towards the checkout.
The bright faced girl looks up and says.
“There you are, it’s turned out nice after all.”
 

© David Hermelin 2016