Mister Softee

Every day my coworkers and I eagerly and patiently wait for Mister Softee to make a visit around 2:30 — 3:00. Unfortunately, Mister Softee is very inconsistent and shows up maybe once every two weeks. Today, he came in the parking lot and left before we could even make it to the truck which was already back on the road. If you’re not going to stop, don’t get our hopes up, Mister Softee.

No ice cream here, keep driving!

Lalalalalalalalaa. lalalalalalaa. lalalalaa… Well, I’m actually kinda tone deaf. Don’t rely on me to name songs or sing anything for you.
The carefree days of running around with at least one band-​aid on the knees, when biking without a helmet was legal, and playing hopscotch was still age-​appropriate. Yes, we did not hibernate in front of TVs or computer screens at all hours of the day and/​or night.
Sometime around 4 or 5 PM each day, we heard the beloved tune that epitomizes the joys of childhood. At the first faintest ding-​a-​ling, we quickly gathered any money we could find, stormed down the creaky stairs, risked our limbs and skulls as we hopped down the concrete front steps, and raced in the direction of the blue and white promise-​land on four wheels.
Soft serve? Want chocolate drizzle? Strawberry drizzle? Sprinkles! Or flavored icies? Oooh, they have banana splits! Ice cream sandwiches! Oh oh, what about the strawberry shortcake ice cream bar! And a chocolate version too! Or should I get the orange creamsicle bar? Oh too many choices! Oh, I’m dying from indecision and I have so little money!!! Arggghhhh!!! How do children around the world deal???
I’ve always enjoyed Mister Softee, but I was always sad to finish it so quickly. I wished the sweet sound would stir my ears again, so I can raid the piggy bank for more money and wrap my little hands around another Mister Softee treat. Don’t go, Mister Softee. Don’t turn the corner. Don’t leave me here savoring the last icy lick of nectar.
And so it goes:
~ Here comes Mis-​ter Sof-​tee
~ The soft ice cream man.
~ The cream-​i-​est dream-​i-​est soft ice cream from Mis-​ter Sof-​tee
~ For a re-​fresh-​ing de-​light su-​preme
~ Look for Mis-​ter Sof-​tee
~ My milkshakes and my sun-​daes and my cones are such a treat
~ Lis-​ten for my store on wheels ding-​a-​ling down the street
and on and on…