The Toy Truck

a short story

The streets of Dublin bustled with activity as a little boy of no more than seven years trudged along. His name was Johnny, and his small feet dragged against the cobblestone, weighed down by fatigue but also by the weight of his heart. The city, which usually brought him wonder and joy, now felt like a villain: it taunted him with its busyness and tumult. He had a mission, though, something that would hopefully bring light to his heavy burden. He would find the perfect gift for his father, a token to remind him of the love that still existed within their worn out home.

Johnny’s eyes darted from stall to stall as he searched for the perfect gift. Was it here? He didn’t have much money, only what allowance he had saved for the last month and a half, but he knew that whatever he found, it had to be special, perfect. He looked at trinkets, toys, and knick-knacks, but nothing seemed quite right. The rain was threatening to fall from a disapproving sky.

He was about to give up when he saw a small toy truck sitting on a vendor’s table. It was nothing fancy, just a little metal truck with wheels that turned, but something about it caught Johnny’s eye. He picked it up and examined it closely, and he remembered his father’s truck at work before, the one he had used for all the deliveries, and he knew this was the perfect gift. He eagerly handed over his few coins to the vendor and clutched the toy truck tightly in his small hand. The weight of his burden eased a little as he felt hope this gift would bring a smile to his father’s tired face.

Johnny made his way home, the toy truck carefully nestled in his pocket. He looked around the streets for a suitable wrapping or bag to put the toy truck into, but nothing he found was quite right. He finally decided to simply wrap it in a piece of newspaper, tucking the corners neatly to keep it secure. His father would understand, he thought. He grabbed one of the free marketing newspapers from one of its street boxes that stood patiently for people to take its free wares.

As he turned the corner onto his street, he was full of anticipation. A flash of his dad disapproving rattled Johnny’s mind. Johnny shook his head as if that would erase the fear that a toy was not what would give his father work again, and could hardly soften what this year had been so far. He shook his head again.

He hurried inside, took off his coat and set about wrapping the toy truck. The rain began to fall. Johnny had the toy truck wrapped snugly now, and he listened to the raindrops hit the window. They sounded like metallic knocks at the door but on the windows.

Then, through the window and the rain, he saw his father walking up the path, his shoulders stooped with exhaustion, the rain dropping his head down so he looked at the ground. Johnny’s heart ached to see his father so worn out.

The locked turned with his father’s key outside the door, and it opened. Johnny ran up to him and said, “Daddy, I have something for you.” His father, soaked, looked at him with tired eyes, but they brightened when he saw the small package in Johnny’s hand.

His father took the package and carefully unwrapped it. As he revealed the toy truck, his eyes filled with tears. Johnny was surprised, he didn’t expect his father to cry. His father hugged him tightly, and was silent. The tears continued to flow down his father’s face, a mix of relief, fatigue, gratitude and, Johnny would realize when he was older: love. His father holding him in his arms and the toy truck in his hand, his dad whispered, “Thank you, my boy.”

The rain fell more gently now as Johnny hugged his father back tightly, feeling a sense of accomplishment and joy that he would only understand fully once he was grown. Right now, it just made him glad he’d saved his allowance. The feel of his dad’s arms around him imprinted on Johnny now, it would stay with Johnny to share with his children later. Warm, dry, safe: the toy truck was home.

© Copyright January 12, 2023, David August, all rights reserved davidaugust.com

David August is an award-winning actor, acting coach, writer, director, and producer. He plays a role in the movie Dependent’s Day, and after its theatrical run, it’s now out on Amazon. He has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC, on the TV show Ghost Town, and many others. His artwork has been used by multiple writers, filmmakers, theatre practitioners and others to express visually. Off-screen, he has worked at ad agencies, start-ups, production companies, and major studios, helping them tell stories their customers and clients adore. He has guest lectured at USC’s Marshall School of Business about the internet.