Ever seen the backside of a roller in the midst of an asphalt-paving job? Was the only thing visible in the driver’s seat a bright yellow hard hat?
If so, you probably witnessed 7-year-old Steven Malone at work.
Son of Mr. And Mrs. Robert Malone, young Steven drives the roller for his dad’s digging service – a job he’s had since he was 5.
“Everyone keeps an eye on him, and I don’t worry about him as much as I used to,” stated Mrs. Malone. “Steven would drive all day, if you’d let him.”
He like his job “pretty well.” And, says he doesn’t get tired and he doesn’t get hot.
The blond-haired, brown-eyed young worker knows about his equipment, too – important things, like the location of park, drive, and reverse; how to shut the machine off; where the gas goes, and the water goes, and how to apply the brake. He can do everything except crank it up.
Steven even learned that, when he needs both hands to turn the steering wheel, he could hold the gearshift lever in place with his foot.
He practices good safety, too. His eyes are constantly watching where he’s going – his view obstructed occasionally only by his hand scratching his head.
It appears that the ‘big guys’ around the work site trust the little fellow’s driving. “I’ve gotten to where I can get pretty close,” Steven said confidently, adding that he’s never run over anybody.
Driving a roller in not the only adult activity in which the second grader participates, “I can ride a bicycle and play battle ball.
“I caught a perch, too. That’s when I had a pole. I’m going to get a fishing rod.”
There are times, when it is necessary for Steven to pump a gallon or so of gas for the roller he drives. He does that on his own, too.
“I know where the gears are on a truck, too.”
Steven’s brother, Lynn, age 10, who started driving at age 8, rented his roller to the city for the time being. Lynn said he finds it difficult to persuade Steven to let him drive, too.
“We pay the boys a little bit, and they put the money in a savings account,” Mrs. Malone said.
Although it might be a good job, Steven doesn’t intend to drive a roller when he’s older. “I want to be a mountain man – just like Grizzly Adams. I want to live with a bear, too…I’d love it.”