Red car

[Jerrybaldy]

That shiny red car was all I desired,
five new pence and an open purse
was all that was required.
I would sit in control,
an eight year old
international playboy
outside the supermart.
Steering wheel held
in felt tipped tattoed hands
greeting ladies in headscarfs
as they entered the warm air blow
of the entrance.
It may be stew for tea
with bubble gum beef fat
and rancid suet dumplings
but I still had a full minute left
of rocking back and forth.

[Delta40]

Lol. What an excellent memory to have. I can see the shopping centre and boy in the red car quite clearly. bubble gum beef fat? ugh but it definitely highlights how you treasured the ride.

[MystyrMystyry]

I remember riding those things, and occasionally see them, and if not for decorum I would be sorely tempted to re-try one and see if the memory lives up to itself - who am I kidding - I'd probably break it...

Thanks for the memory

[PrinceMyshkin]

Just spilling over with vivid memories. Well done, your Baldness!

[everyadventure]

I lived the imagery of the ladies' headscarves blowing in the entrance, as though you're passing them by at such great speed! I didn't understand the random? food references at the end... but I had a fun ride. Melon boats and race cars, you DO get around!

[Delta40]

I remember the little cars that you pedalled furiously to speed round in. I don't t see them anymore.

[MystyrMystyry]

^Because collectors who have paid high prices keep them under lock and key

They cost of manufacturing the metal became prohibitive, and they're quite impractical compared to little bikes

They were replaced at some point (90's?) with cheaper plastic trikes which in the hands of a skilled driver could skid and slide in tight circles around the house and yard

But I think most of them were fated to end up unseen under the back wheels in the driveway

[paperleaves]

What splendid imagery! Thanks for the smiles~

love
paper

[everyadventure]

You can still buy the pedal cars (http://www.walmart.com/ip/InSTEP-Police-Pedal-Car/12393473), but they're a little on the pricey side. It's a second-birthday traditional gift in our family...

[MystyrMystyry]

Google infroms me that what everyadventure says about availibility is true

[Jerrybaldy]

Thank you all. I had in mind the 'ride' where the red car accepts a coin and rocks back and forth in return for your money. The food reference is based on early seventies England in a working class family where the food was bloody awful and my biggest fear was stew night with Beef that was 90% unbreakable fat and I used it to show that even the fear of that was lost in the joy of sitting in that red racing car.

[everyadventure]

Thank you all. I had in mind the 'ride' where the red car accepts a coin and rocks back and forth in return for your money. The food reference is based on early seventies England in a working class family where the food was bloody awful and my biggest fear was stew night with Beef that was 90% unbreakable fat and I used it to show that even the fear of that was lost in the joy of sitting in that red racing car.

Yes, I figured you meant the coin-operated kind, but got distracted with the discussion... I like this poem even more now that I understand your phobia of English beef.

[Jerrybaldy]

lol. it wasnt so much English beef ( although we did have mad cows) it was the cheapest possible version that was affordable and frankly terrifying when you could not leave the table until it was eaten :D

[Delta40]

Thankfully, my mother made ALOT of yorkshire pudding and dumplings with everything...

[Haunted]

It brought me right back to the days when I was rocking on a play horse in the old department stores. I was a pretend cowgirl, the counterpart of the international playboy / outside the supermart. Such an adorable moment in the poem.

So Jay Leno is right? LOL. I'm sure you know, he's a late night comic and he jokes regularly about how awful English food is.

[Jerrybaldy]

Leno Schmeno. It was true in the 70's however. :)