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The Red Texaco Fire Chief Truck

The Red Texaco Fire Chief Truck
David J Walker

I’ve seen them parked on the shelves of 
antique stores
Too numerous to count 

That Red Texaco Gas tanker truck
Made of pressed sheet metal 
Almost indestructible 
that, at my young age
And small size

I could ride 
all day long
as if making the deliveries myself
Clear in my memory
The year 
I got it for Christmas 

And rode it
	And rode it
		And rode it

Until it was parked in the dark of
A Toybox 
That was repurposed from a 
WWII gun-box 

I don’t remember ever seeing it again
Until my walk down memory lane
Where I had to refrain 
From shouting out

It’s Mine!
Well, it was at one time

Some are time-worn as if left 
Out in the storms of summer and winter
Some have crushed cabs where the 
Riders once sat


But some were pristine with perfect 
Original fresh paint kept perfectly clean 
In original boxes as if never
Having been played with

which made me sad
but I was glad to see them in
this Antique store museum 

And it makes me smile
	For the while I am 
In the store
	Looking for more of the 
Pressed metal toys of my youth 


Truth
Plastic would never have survived 
my childhood
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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De Beaulieu Avatar
September 5, 2021 at 12:22 PM
Hello David Walker, those red Texicaco trucks in the boxes are now antiques. I love antique cars and other items to. I have dreams of owning an antique desk but that dream has not happened. At least not yet. Cheers Darlene
De Beaulieu Avatar
September 7, 2021 at 11:13 AM
Hello David Walker, oh that is a great idea. oh you did enjoy those fire trucks in your childhood. Enjoy your day my friend.
Walker Avatar
September 6, 2021 at 3:53 PM
Darlene...we need to get that request into Santa early this year.. Thank you. That Texaco truck brought many hours of joy to my childhood.
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