I was on the outskirts of a little Southern town, trying to reach my
destination before the sun
went down. The old CB was blaring away on channel 1-9, when there came a
little boy's voice on
the radio line. He said, "Breaker 1-9, is anyone there? Come on back,
truckers, and talk to
Teddy Bear."
I keyed the mike and said, "You got it, Teddy Bear."
The little boy's voice came back on the air, appreciate the break. "Who we
got on the other end?"
I told him my handle and then he began.
"Now I'm not supposed to bother you boys out there. Mom says you're busy
and for me to
stay off the air. But you see, I get lonely and it helps to talk cause
that's about all
I can do. I'm crippled and cannot walk."
I came back and told him to fire up that mike, I'd talk to him as long as
he'd like.
"This was my dad's radio," the little boy said, "but I guess it's mine and
Mom's now cause
my daddy's dead. Dad had a wreck about a month ago. He was trying to get
home in a
blinding snow. Mom has to work now to make ends meet. I'm not much help
with my
crippled feet. She says not to worry that she'll make it all right. But I
hear her
crying sometimes late at night.
"You know, there's one thing I want more than anything else to see. Ah I
know you guys
are too busy to bother with me. But, you see, my dad used to take me for
rides when he
was home. But I guess that's all over now since my daddy's gone."
Not one breaker came in on that CB as that little crippled boy talked to
me. I tried hard to
swallow the lump, it just would not stay down as I thought about my boy in
at home in
hometown.
He continued, "Dad was going to take Mom and me with him later on this
year. I remember him saying,
'Someday this old truck will be yours, Teddy Bear.' But I know I will never
get to ride in an
18-wheeler again. But this old base will keep me in touch with all my
trucker friends. Teddy
Bear's going to back out now and leave you alone cause it's almost time for
Mom to come home.
But you give me a shout when you're passing through and I'll be happy to
come back to you."
Well I came back and said, "Before you 10-10, what's your home 20, little
CB friend?"
He gave me his home address and I didn't hesitate one second because this
hot load of freight was just
gonna have to wait. I turned that truck around on a dime and headed for
Jackson Street 229.
As I rounded the corner, I got one heck of a shock, 18-wheelers lined up
for three city blocks.
I guess every trucker from miles around had caught Teddy Bear's call, and
that little boy
was having a ball. For as fast as one driver would carry him in, another
would carry him to his
truck and they'd take off again. Well you better believe I took my turn at
riding Teddy Bear.
And then I carried him back in and put him down in his chair. Buddy, if I
never live to see
happiness again, I want you to know I saw it that day in the face of that
little man. We took
up a collection before his mom came home. Each driver said goodbye and then
they were gone. He
shook my hand with a mile-long grin and said, "So long trucker, I'll catch
you again."
I hit that interstate with tears in my eyes. I turned on my radio and got
another surprise.
"Breaker 1-9," came a voice on the air, "just one word of thanks from Mom
Teddy Bear. We wish each
and every one a special prayer for you cause you just made my little boy's
dream come true."
I'll sign off now before I start to cry. "May God ride with you; 10-4 and
goodbye."
