Tonka Race-A-Long Chuck

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Jake sat on the mall bench, looking at the Tonka Race-A-Long Chuck on the store’s shelf. What must it be like, he wondered, to be a toy left behind at Christmas?

Tonka Race-A-Long Chuck looked across the aisle at the doll with the flirty name. “Hey, Blondie!” he called, “You didn’t get bought either, huh?”

“Keep it down, Chuck!” yelled the large plush monster in Aisle Four. “She’s feelin’ bad enough!”

Tonka Race-A-Long Chuck shrugged. “Aw, I didn’t mean nothin’ by it, Blondie. Say, it ain’t so bad to be here today! You know why?”

The blonde doll didn’t answer. Tonka Race-A-Long Chuck chuckled.

“Shy, huh? Well, ol’ Chuck’s got enough sounds for all of us. Did you know I can play ‘Follow The Leader’ and ‘Circle Race’ with my cab lights?”

“I said shut up!” yelled the monster. Tonka Race-A-Long Chuck waved him off.

“Don’t worry, Blondie, that guy’s all talk. Inside, he’s plush. Not like you and me. We know about life.”

Blondie didn’t answer, but she seemed to understand. Tonka Race-A-Long Chuck shifted on his shelf.

“So, like I was saying, it ain’t so bad to be here. And why? Because of two big secrets about Christmas. The first is this: kids never get everything they want. The second is this: aunts and uncles sometimes send checks. And who do you think is gonna be December’s Newest Toy right after the banks open and those checks get cashed?”

The monster snorted.

“Yeah, you know I’m right, buddy!” Tonka Race-A-Long Chuck yelled. “Face it, Blondie. Today we’re not some forgotten present. We’re the toy they bought themselves, or the toy they bought for no reason, or the toy that happens because someone forgot to get them one in time. Bein’ unsold on Christmas isn’t a bad thing, Blondie. It’s a GREAT thing.”

“I see that smile, Jake!” Michelle said, walking up behind her son. “You thinking about what toy you’re gonna buy with your Christmas money today?”

“Sort of, Mom,” Jake answered. “Sort of.”

In the box:

• (1) Tonka Race Along Chuck – 28664

Woot