Cape After Dark, Part 1: Nighttime workers offer glimpse into their lives

At 5 p.m., the workday for many in Cape Girardeau ends.

But for custodian Larry Lacey, it has barely begun.

As assistant custodial supervisor for the evening shift at Southeast Missouri State University, Lacey oversees a staff of 21 workers from 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday and from 2 to 10 p.m. on Fridays.

Each employee under his watch covers 56,000 square feet each evening. Duties include sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, sanitation and other cleaning duties in buildings throughout the 400-acre campus.

Though he rarely, if ever, goes home with a spotless shirt, Lacey said he enjoys every moment of his job.

Marissa Benn of Cape Girardeau sweeps a classroom Wednesday in the Scully Building on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. Benn tidies classrooms typically from 4 p.m. to midnight.

"Custodial work is dirty," said Lacey, who has worked at Southeast for 17 years, including the past six years in his current role. "To stay in this work you have to enjoy it. I've been in this field since 1976, and this is what I want to do with my life."

Most custodians Southeast hires are automatically placed on the evening crew, which Lacey said many on his staff enjoy because of the hours.

"I can go to sleep at midnight and get up the next day with lots of time on my hands to get what I need done," Lacey said. "It's one of the best perks of being a nighttime worker."

Like Lacey and the custodial staff, Landmark Hospital nurses Tracy Hughes and Joanne Shaw enjoy the evening hours. Hughes calls herself a night owl.

"I function better on night shifts," said Hughes, a registered nurse in charge of weekday night shifts. "Also, I have more time to devote to patient care issues at night. During the day every department is involved in patient care, which cuts down on times that I can spend one on one with the patient."

However, her shift has its drawbacks.

"One negative aspect of working night shifts would have to be my family," Hughes said. "There are only a few days during the week that I can be home with them to tuck my girls in bed. Other than that, I love my job, the people I work with but most importantly the patients that I get to provide care for. They are the reason I do what I do."

When Shaw moved from the day to the evening shift, she said it required adjustment. But now, Shaw said, she enjoys working during at night.

"I chose the night shift so I am able to be available to help members of my family, to continue daily activities I enjoy and not to mention I make more money on the night shift," said Shaw, a licensed practical staff nurse. "At this point in my life there is not a negative to working nights.

"The positive thing about working night shift is I get to spend more one-on-one time with my patients," she said. "I have time to sit down with them and talk about their hopes, dreams and fears. It is easy for a person who has been ill for a very long time to lose hope. I simply hope I have made part of their stay with us a little more bearable."

Southeast Missouri Hospital night shift house supervisor Travis Blanton prefers the evening hours because it allows him to attend his four children's sporting events. Working at night also offers higher pay and a calmer hospital environment.

The down side is "everyone else is asleep while you are awake and during the daytime when you are attempting to sleep you have to deal with the noise of a neighbor cutting grass, phone calls, etc.," Blanton said. "I guess you never feel totally rested when you are on the night shift."

Battalion chief Fred Vincel has been working for the Cape Girardeau Fire Department for 26 years. Like all other firefighters, Vincel works a 24-hours-on, 24-hours-off shift. While the nighttime hours can be difficult, Vincel said, it's worth it when he can help someone in need of medical attention or save someone from a burning home.

"This is a job with a great amount of gratification and purpose," Vincel said. "But there are times when we arrive on scene and witness a loss of life."

Vincel said the hardest time was about 15 years ago when a co-worker committed suicide.

"That's when we rely on each other," Vincel said. "We're like a family and care and protect our own."

Steven Majeed, owner of Stevie's Steakburger and Semo Gas, has his own family -- the customers. Eighty percent of patrons at Semo Gas are regulars.

"The great thing is that people know you and can talk with you like they're your friend," said Majeed, who is the only nighttime cashier. "Since most of my family is in Pakistan and I work 18 hours a day, seven days a week, those customers are my family."

Majeed, who works at Stevie's Steakburger on the weekends after he closes Semo Gas at midnight, said he enjoys the college students who visit his business during the evening hours.

"When they're drunk, they act pretty crazy," Majeed said. "Everyone is telling me they love me and saying pretty outrageous things as they drive by, honk their horns and wave at me."

However, Majeed admits that, although Semo Gas has never been robbed, he is sometimes concerned about his safety.

"I'm scared because I never know what will happen," Majeed said. "But being close to the police station is comforting. Plus, I have a pretty good security system in place."

In two years, the 40-year-old Majeed plans to retire and return to Pakistan.

"But for now it's good," Majeed said. "I'm having too much fun."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628