My Own Steel

My Own Steel is tucked away in the C.P. Tank area, specifically on the 3rd Panjrapole Lane. This whole part of town is known for metal and hardware, so we fit right in with the rest of the shops. The address has some strange numbers in it, but we just call it the lane near the tank. It is a very tight space inside. We have stacks of steel rods and heavy sheets leaning against the walls. It is hard work moving this stuff around, and we usually have to do it by hand or with a small metal trolley. The sound of metal hitting metal is something you hear all day long. It can be quite loud and jarring if you aren't used to the noise. We don't have a proper desk for customers to sit at. People just stand in the doorway and tell us what they are looking for. We measure things out on the floor and cut them if they need a specific size. Our hands are always grey from the steel dust and the grease. It is not a clean job, but someone has to do it. The lane is so narrow that trucks have a hard time getting in, so we spend a lot of time carrying items out to the main road. We have been here for many years and know all the other shop owners. We share tea and complain about the weather together. (248 words)