Tracy the Truck
What happens when rainfall turns the road into muck? Tracy discovers even SHE can get stuck . . .
It’s only the first week of July, but summer flies by faster than a truck whipping along backcountry roads! This month’s B-Side story is all about a tow truck named Tracy - the helpful hero of her town known for towing friends out of trouble. Until, one day, Tracy finds that SHE is the one in need of towing. Getting stuck in a storm teaches Tracy that sometimes, no matter how tough we are, we just have to wait until the grey skies turn blue again . . . and they always DO!
Tracy the Truck
by caitlin nicole evans
Dedicated to Owen Hessey, one of B-Side’s biggest little fans. You were the inspiration behind my very first baby “book”, so this truck-filled tale is just for you . . .
Perhaps, you have heard of one famous train - the Little Blue Engine who could.
She was not quite sure she could make it up mountains, until she BELIEVED that she would.
“I think I can. I think I can,” this little steam engine would chant.
Oh, she knew that deep down she just had to think there was no chance of failure, or CAN’T.
She conquered big hills with hope in her heart, and achieved what it was she desired.
And the trucks and the trains, every car, every plane, all around her felt truly inspired!
But . . .
One little truck, her less famous friend, has a tale which nobody knows.
Tracy the Truck had her own hill to climb.
Let’s see how this story goes . . .
Tracy was truly a truck who was tough,
with an engine of hefty horsepower.
If tinier trucks, or cars were found stuck,
then she was the truck of the hour!
Yes, Tracy was known for towing the sick.
Her strength and her smile always did just the trick.
Whether engines were coughing,
or tires were popped.
If oil was leaking,
or a time belt was stopped.
Tracy was there to tow them to town,
to the magic mechanics to tinker around.
Until each car or truck felt much better inside.
Then VROOOOOMMMMMMM - they were back on the roads for a ride.
When someone saw Tracy, they would wave and honk “Hey!”
For Tracy was famous for saving the day.
She was friendly, and helpful. So savvy and kind.
It was rare to find Tracy’s own wheels in a bind.
Until, one afternoon she had hours to spare.
The backroads were quiet, and the weather seemed fair.
Grey clouds had loomed, but the sun had survived.
So, she took herself out for a long Sunday drive.
Tracy drove past some tractors.
She honked at a plow.
She rolled past some chickens,
some sheep, and some cows.
Soon there was nothing but green rolling fields.
The purr of her motor, and the whish of her wheels.
After nearly an hour, the blue sky grew grey.
And raindrops appeared, as the sun slipped away.
The roads turned to dirt, and she found it quite sticky.
Mud for a truck was a little bit tricky.
The whir of her wheels got a little more whirrrrrry.
She was sinking a bit and began to feel worried.
When you needed a tow, then she was your truck.
But, now it was Tracy who facing bad luck.
She tried spinning her wheels in the messy mud muck,
but revving her engine just made her more stuck.
She was sitting wheel-high in slip-sloppy goo,
and for once in her life wasn’t sure what to do.
She tried to be clever, and swerve left to right,
But the mud sucked her deeper, ‘til she stuck truly tight.
She shifted her gears, but that mud wouldn’t bite!
It swallowed her more, despite all of her might.
If she couldn’t use wit, and she couldn’t use power,
then surely her wheels would be stuck there for hours!
She finally decided, with plenty resistance,
this might be the day that she needed assistance.
Alas, there was no other tow truck in town.
And out in the country there were no cars around.
No farmer to push her.
No cows to call, “MOOOOOOO-VE.”
No tractor to pull her.
Oh, what could she do?!?
There was only one option.
She would just have to stay.
And wait for the mud to dry up into clay.
But, perhaps, she could still make the most of her day.
After all, all the rain had drifted away . . .
So, she stopped her wheels spinning.
Her engine shut down.
The fumes disappeared,
and she heard subtle sounds.
Grasshoppers chirping and birds in the trees.
The sun warmed her windows, and she felt a soft breeze.
The grass was swish-swishing.
A creek was bub-bubbling.
In the peace and the quiet,
Tracy found life less troubling.
It was really okay, being stuck in that goo.
With no work to be tackled, and nothing to do.
She let all her worries drift up to the sky.
Blinking her headlights, she fluttered her eyes.
She took a small nap, and awoke to the night.
In the dark she was suddenly flooded . . . with fright!
It felt pretty scary in the night on her own.
But, she relaxed when she noticed - she WASN’T alone.
The crickets were calling and the owls were hooting.
Far in the city some horns were still tooting.
But, Tracy felt cold.
She felt bored,
and then weepy.
She felt brave,
and then worried.
Frightened,
then sleepy.
Time passed and the sun stretched it’s rays, like a yawn.
Farm fields woke up, lit up gold in the dawn.
Lavender clouds began to drift by.
Some marshmallow pink, against pale blue-bird sky.
Tracy had always liked bright flashy cars,
but these soft morning hues were much better by far!
And oh, what a night, with the bright moon and stars . . .
Being stuck in the mud wasn’t easy to take.
But, all in all, she’d survived through the wake.
She’d accepted the fact that she just had to stay.
That she could not fix it, or be towed away.
It was better to try to stay in the present.
And find tiny moments that made things more pleasant.
Sometimes we are strong.
Sometimes we are tender.
Sometimes there’s no solution.
There is only surrender.
(Now, that’s a big lesson to learn from the rain.
Bigger than a car, than a truck, or a train!)
Eventually, the sun dried up all the muck,
and Tracy’s poor tires were finally unstuck.
She was tired from spending the night out alone,
but excited to finally drive back to her home.
She would get a nice wash and get some good rest.
Then get back to work feeling more like her best.
Now, the Little Steam Engine may have done what she could,
and proven that she could climb mountains, and would!
BUT . . .
Tracy had proven that sometimes a truck,
can be perfectly fine staying perfectly stuck.
No could’a, or would’a or should’a at all.
Just patiently waiting for the rain not to fall.
For clouds to meander.
For the sky to appear.
For the mud to dry up.
For the roads to be clear.
And, if we’re lucky, we might even look up . . .
And find tiny stars, amongst all life’s muck . . .
The End
Recommended Reading: Since this story is based on “The Little Engine Who Could”, I invite little ones to read this classic tale and see just what one tiny train could do when she put her mind to it! It was written by Watty Piper in the 1930’s, and still rings true today…..or whistles, shall I say. In the end, this book holds a wonderful moral about being optimistic. The power of positive thinking is a lovely lesson, indeed and I hope you and your little one’s will enjoy!
Order my 1st Book - Cosette Goes to the County: “Cosette Goes to the County” is all about a fancy Frenchie from the city of Toronto who learns to love the country life when her parents take her on a trip to Prince Edward County. This book is perfect for city slickers, country folks, and dog lovers alike! Just click the button below to order your own copy. Orders end on August 1st at midnight, so vrrrrrrooooooooom on over to the website below . . .
Now, enjoy the rest of the summer season and try not to get stuck in the mud. Enjoy the summer rains and the summer sun. Enjoy long country drives and some book reading fun!
Be sure to tune into next month’s B-Side Story, and remember to comment, share, and subscribe.
