DO IT
'Run, run, as fast as you can. You can catch me I'm the Good Humor Man.' I've had enough today. It is 98 degrees at 4 p.m. Twins, cute brother and sister, skip along the sidewalk licking frozen cherry popsicles. I'm not speeding but not crawling either. If I stop, more kids will surround me. I'll be on the street until my truck is empty. My lunch is two ice cream sandwiches with a slug of lemonade from my old trusty thermos. I chance speeding up just a little, make a left turn and see the twins stop at the corner. They are not allowed to cross over. A deep sigh runs from my sweaty chest.
It's a foolish feeling that passes fairly fast thru my mind each day as I end my route. The children have had their treats, my quota has been reached so that I am ready to have my supper. I am content until a streak of fire ignites me, gnaws at my guts. There is no end to the life I lead, no future. Every summer electric storm takes money out of my pocket. As fall nears, so does boredom. Being a 'handy man' in fall will offer no hope either. My few jobs keep me from starving but give me no pleasure.
Only two weeks are left before school begins. The want ads don't tempt me. I look to the sky and pray to an absent god, 'Please guide me, give me fulfillment.' I smack myself in the face to come back to reality. Accidentally, or maybe god was answering, my hand brushes the buzzer near my wheel and the bells tinkle. The first ones to reach me are the twins. Today they both want Dixie cups with chocolate syrup and lots of paper napkins. They tell me that Josh is having a birthday party today which means business will be slow. I smile, wink at the twins and they wave so long to me. The day drags. On the other side of the street some older kids are playing Red Rover, Red Rover. I pull next to them and give each one a free popsicle. There is a whole carton of ice cream sandwiches in the cab freezer that I don't want to lose so I drive home, put the truck in the garage and go to a 3 D movie playing around the corner. It is so dumb I walk out in 20 minutes. At home I decide to make sunny side up eggs for my supper. They fall easily into the teflon pan but when I put my spatula near them, both eggs break into a yellowish, whitish blob. With a fresh piece of packaged white bread, I soak it up, watch the Ravens lose their jock straps and go to bed. Sleep comes quickly, so quickly I believe I am awake. Josh knocks on my door when his party is over. He is wearing a goofy looking clown suit. Both hands have puppets on the fingers. The twins follow the clown who tickles them under their chins with the little puppets. Everybody, even Josh, laugh. We all make a circle and play Ring Around the Rosy. Josh, looks sadly at me, pretends he has a big, fat belly like Santa Claus and Ho Ho Hos until I wake, confused, not knowing reality from sleep.
Oh, I am awake alright. Josh must have taken a message for me from god. 'Go,Young Man, give up the ice cream truck. Anybody can sell ice cream. You are special. Go to Sarasota, to the Clown Teachery. It will be easy for you to learn. You were meant to be with children. Listen to me, to you heart, to your mind and you will live happily ever after.'
I give one week's notice to Arundel's, say goodbye to all the little children I have adored, turn my small apartment over to a real estate agent, get my plane tickets and soar to heaven. I must admit the experience is not easy but it will put me where I belong.
Next time you are in Florida, do come to the Ringling Circus and to the art gallery where there are hundreds of paintings of clowns by Red Skelton. The one on the far end of the right wall that looks like Clarabelle is me.
No comments:
Post a Comment