Just a quarter

 We all remember the ice cream truck that came through our neighborhood on hot summer nights. The endless loop of a song still resonates with us decades later, as children would run and scream, desperately clutching their quarters as the music grew louder. When the truck stopped, a line of kids formed, eagerly holding onto their change while reading the menu of treats: fudge bars, chocolate-covered cones, popsicles, squeeze tubes, ice cream sandwiches, and creamsicles. The ice cream man was always smiling as he handed out the frozen treats, often saying, "It's okay if a kid comes up short on their quarter."

But do you remember the ice cream man who drove a converted police three-wheeler Harley-Davidson? He transformed the compartment that once held a policeman's equipment into a freezer for the treats. He painted it white and decorated it with stickers showcasing the various frozen delights that you could get for, you guessed it, a quarter. He was a large man with a laugh as big as his personality, and he spoke with a Greek accent.

Then there was the ride man who drove through the neighborhoods on a converted flatbed truck with a kiddie ride attached to it. The ride was called "The Whip," and to a six-year-old, it was as scary as it got. The ride man was friendly, nodding to parents with a toothless smile and dirty overalls. He always had something nice to say to the kids who hesitated to get on the ride, assuring them that it was safe.

And how about the pony man? There was an actual man who walked his pony down the street, offering rides on Princess the pony. He charged a little more than a quarter because he had to buy feed and new shoes for her when she needed them. He also had a few cowboy hats that he would put on your head while parents scrambled for cameras to take pictures, which, to this day, adorn the walls of many homes.

I’m showing my age now as I ask if you remember the Fuller Brush man, the knife-sharpening guy, and the vegetable man who came with a horse-drawn wagon, stopping where moms gathered to pick out the best produce. There was even the ice man who came around with a giant block of ice. He would chip off good-sized pieces and fill a bag for, yes, a quarter.

Those were simpler times when the little things meant something. Kids were spoiled with treats as simple as ice cream or a ride on a pony. There were people trying to earn a few quarters to bring smiles and create memories that would last a lifetime. I’m glad I was part of those times and reminisce about them every time I hold a quarter in my hand, hoping the ride man will come down my street.

- Mike, 2025