//------------------------------//
// On the Job 
// Story: Dirty Birds 
// by TheFlyingHippogriff 
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Digging is one part of the job we have to do on the work site. I knew I had to expand into other machines. When building structures or creating roads, you need to make the ground flat and even for the other machines to their jobs. Thus, I gave Gilda and Greta a check to go to a local dealer and got us our first bulldozers and track loaders.

These machines are a must on any work site. Bulldozers and track loaders can do the work of hundreds of ponies and griffons with shovels in a lot less time. The ladies were happy to see them arrive in the shop on the gooseneck trailer. We had to make two trips to the dealer since he advertised a two for four deal on his dozers and loaders.

We paid for the two machines, and got four. It is a good deal, and even in their broken down state I knew in my heart we can make them relive their days again. Gilda and Greta had purchased two Caterpillar 973D crawler loaders, and two Liebherr PR734XL bulldozers, "When the dealer said they need some TLC, they weren't kidding," said Gilda,

Right as Gilda commented, a vent cover fell off one of the loaders, "You HAD to say that," said Greta,

"Well, c'mon girls, we can handle this," said Gabby with a fist-pump of confidence, "we can do this!"

"Let's go to work," I said with a nod, and we gathered our tools to restore the new arrivals. Days turned into weeks. In less than a month these four machines were ready to dawn our colors. The bucket, tracks, and the cab are painted black, and the rest of the body are painted orange. Thanks to Giselle, our dozers are named 'Garnet' and 'Gina'.

Irma christened our two track loaders with the names 'Jaws' and 'Gunther'. Track loaders are versatile machines on a construction site. They can do grading as well as carry overburden in their buckets to the waiting dump trucks. Our track loaders and bulldozers also have talon-shaped blades behind the tracks called 'shanks' to loosen the ground.

They got their tracks dirty once again at a building site in Griffonstone where a new school was being built. Greta and Gilda were handling 'Jaws' and 'Gina'. Gabby and Giselle were at the controls of 'Gunther' and 'Garnet'. I was handling 'Foxy' one of the newly restored Insley excavators. Gilda gave me a wave as she passed by me in the new dozer.

"How's she doing?" I asked from the radio in the cab as I swung the excavator around to take another scoop of rock and dirt for a Mack Super-Liner dump truck,

"Smooth as pâté," said Gilda, grading the ground and pushing rock and dirt up to the mound I was on, "speaking of that, it's almost lunchtime"

"I know, I'm going to fill this truck first, then we can eat," I replied back, and got a talons-up and smile from Gilda, it feels great that our company is doing it's part to help the community. I ask myself sometimes that since I am a hippogriff does that make me a fore-mare or fore-griffon when I am overseeing, and managing a part of the work site?

Once the truck was filled, I gave the load a light tap to let the driver know that his dump-box is now full. He waved me off, and went to take his load where it can be dumped safely. On the other talon, the dirt in this area is rich in nutrients. Because of this, the rocks are separated from the soil, and the soil is sold to be used for orchards and farms.

There was a food truck on the site selling poutine, a real workers lunchtime meal. I took mine with smoked sausage, mushroom, and bacon while the crew had their choices for toppings with cheese curds and gravy, "It's good to be back at work," said Irma, "I've looked at the plans the builders have for this school, and we are all doing our part,"

"True that, when I became friends with Rainbow Dash again, I wanted to do something to pay back the ponies for all the things I did," said Gilda,

Gabby put a wing around Gilda's shoulder with her cheerful smile, "Don't worry, you're doing a great job," she said, "I think we all are, it's a shame Galena is sick today"

"She told me over the phone this morning that she wasn't feeling well, so I wished her all the best to get well soon," I said taking a bite of my lunch. To me, one of the keys to having a good relationship with others is communication. If there is something wrong or there is a change in plans, you have to tell the others otherwise things can go wrong.

Suddenly my phone buzzed. I looked to see it was Galena, "Hi Galena, how are you?" I asked, "Oh? you're feeling better? That's good, oui, oui, you can come by the site we're at the building site in Griffonstone, and could you please come with one of the dump trucks? You will? Alright, I will see you here," an hour later, Galena arrived in the Peterbilt

"I'm not backing out on you hens," said Galena blowing her beak, I nodded with a smile. Galena tipped her hardhat to me, and got into the truck. I did her the honor of being the first truck in line to be filled by my bucket for the afternoon. It looks like she took the Peterbilt dump truck to the truck wash before coming here. That's very kind of her.

The end of the day soon arrived, and we got the ground nice and flat for the builders. When we arrived at the shop, I had an idea, "Ladies, I want to show you something,"