Unchained Melody

There resides, in this world, a classification of work preserved only for genders. As politically incorrect as this may sound these facts remain so true.

I was privy to one of these jobs at a factory in Saskatchewan. While my company did not refuse the employment of men, for this one job specifically, only women were capable of the touch required to produce the quality of product we so coveted. So deft was the touch of our female employees we could not even conceive a machine that could perform the task so well.

I undertook a trip one spring to witness this phenomena for myself. There they were, a line of sixteen women that would rotate a single position every time the product needed a changeover. In a single shift every woman in the line took a turn at the most valued role, tying the sausages.

I watched fascinated as the sausage moved through the hands of the tier. Every three inches she would deftly tie a knot into the link all the while maintaining size and speed of the meat. These women had the most amazing skills. And the softness in their skin spoke volumes to the years of handling skin restorative fats. Long, beautiful, strong, soft hands.

The Lead watched me with some curiosity as I asked questions and marveled at the skills. At the next changeover she winked at her colleagues and invited me to the coveted position. She was going to guide me in the craft, to show me the artistry of sizing, pinching, and tying.

She sat me down and wrapped her arms around me. Her hands were placed upon my own and carefully I depressed the foot peddle to release casing and filling. The casing slipped through my fingers, her hands wrapped around mine. Her strong slender fingers squeezed down onto mine to pinch the link. She slipped her fingers between mine to twist the knot. We repeated this forming and tying ritual over and over, her breath hot on the side of my face, as she leaned over my shoulder guiding me, teaching me.

As we worked a hum was started, an all too familiar tune. The coupled sausage making reached a crescendo as the women on the line broke into full song, Unchained Melody, peals of laughter, this meat packing parody of Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.