Eli and Marcus, two restless college friends from a small Indiana town, escape the monotony of their lives one summer by taking jobs as garbage men in Denver. Riding on the back of Ol’ Bessie—a rickety, old-school garbage truck, they plunge into the rhythms of city work, facing the grime, the chaos, and the surprising dignity of blue-collar labor. Along their route, they encounter a cast of memorable characters: a nosy neighbor with lemonade and gossip, a mysterious recluse who leaves cryptic notes in his trash, a group of kids who turn garbage day into a game, and an aspiring artist who sees beauty in what others discard.
Through humorous mishaps like disastrous attempts at dating, serious encounters with Denver’s homeless population and neighbors in crisis, Eli and Marcus confront their own biases, learn empathy, and begin to take real pride in their work. When Ol’ Bessie breaks down during a city-wide festival, they rally the community to help clean up, earning the respect of their boss and the city.
Garbage Truck Holiday is a heartfelt, humorous, and deeply human story about friendship, growth, and finding purpose in unexpected places.
