Home Page || About this Site || Photo Galleries || Surf the Web
Fire Engine Red Number 9
I remember quite well that hectic spring day
when my young cousin, Bobby McFine,
set out to explore the world on his own
in toy Fire Engine Red Number 9.
I was suppose to watch Bobby closely that day
and I really tried to do my job well
perhaps if I was a bit older back then
there wouldn't be this story to tell.
Aunt Bee, Bobby's mother, told Bobby and me
“don't you dare pass the end of the fence”.
But to six year old Bobby, you know what I think,
that rule just gave him a pinch of suspense.
“We're off to the store to shop for some shoes
and we may stop to stroll by the sea”.
Then as Mom and Aunt Bee drove out of the drive
Aunt Bee yelled, “we'll surely be back before three”.
The morning went by with no problems at all
and I thought everything would be just fine.
We played ball and rode back and forth up the drive
in toy Fire Engine Red Number 9.
Then away for a moment, not one second more,
I ran for a glass of iced tea,
but when I came back and looked round the yard,
can you guess who I couldn’t see?
Past the fence down the sidewalk, I gazed left and right,
I thought Bobby peddled just past the line.
But I started to sweat when I didn't see a trace
of Bobby or Fire Engine Red Number 9.
It was then I remembered what Aunt Bee had said,
and I knew I had trouble, you see.
Cause it was already ten minutes till two,
and Aunt Bee said they'd be home before three.
I raced down the sidewalk, I hoped the right way
to find Bobby in less than an hour.
I knew Bee would get mad if she found we were gone,
and Aunt Bee can get awfully sour.
I ran to the Carter's, who have two black cats.
“Seen Bobby?”, I asked with a pant.
“Oh, he was just here”, said Mr. Carter with a yawn,
“it was Bobby or else Billy Brant”.
Around the next corner at the fire station I asked
“have you seen young Bobby McFine?”
Captain Bell said he saw a toy fire engine whiz by
and it might have been Red Number 9.
At the market I ask Mrs. Smith very nicely,
“have you seen a boy with fluffy brown hair?”
“Oh yes!”, she replied, “I've seen at least forty,
but one parked a red fire engine right over there”.
Was twenty till three, and I hadn't found Bobby,
and now Bobby's house was five minutes away.
If only I hadn’t gone for that iced tea.
So now I thought hard about what I would say.
Aunt Bee would soon ask me, “where's little Bobby?”
I could say he's out playing hide-and-go-seek.
I could say he's out back in the yard somewhere lurking.
I'll go find him, but it may take me a week.
I could say he is sleeping upstairs very soundly,
just let him sleep for another few hours.
I could say he's at Carter's petting the kitties.
Perhaps I should pick Aunt Bee some nice flowers.
I could say he is up in the attic again
playing soldiers around his old crib.
I could say he is lost in the basement somewhere,
but Aunt Bee would soon know it's a fib.
So I ran round the last corner as fast I could,
I didn't have much time left to roam.
But my heart skipped a beat when I got to the driveway,
cause my Mom and Aunt Bee were already home.
I heard the front door close and knew that meant trouble
now surely we'd both get several hard whacks.
I could tell a great fib, but I made up my mind then,
this time I was going to tell nothing but facts.
So I walked slowly up and stood by the door,
and thought what I'd tell my Mom and Aunt Bee.
Then I heard Aunt Bee from inside the house saying:
“Bobby, did you have a good time with your Cousin Lee?”
“He's such a big bore Mom, next time I want Johnny.”
“Cousin Lee wouldn't chase me or even play ball.”
“We just sat and watched cartoons all day long, Mom.”
“We didn't do nothing at all.”
So then I went in and gave Aunt Bee a big hug,
and made silly faces at Bobby McFine.
Then I ask Aunt Bee, “before I go home now,
can we ride round the block once on Red Number 9?”
(Copyright by CFLsurf.com, 2002, all rights reserved.)
Visitors
Home Page || About this Site || Photo Galleries || Surf the Web