One morning last month, while walking Mr. Black, our housemate, I passed a clump of wild flowers over which a lone bumble bee was collecting pollen. Meanwhile, the workers back at the house awaited his arrival, anxious to relieve him of his burden.

A similar situation exists within the trucking industry. Folks known as lumpers  loiter around the docks. They most often  have a spokesperson who negotiates a fee with the driver – usually a hundred dollars – for unloading the trailer.

I doubt the bumble bees back at the house are so richly rewarded.