So, my kid. You know how they get these obsessions? One week it’s dinosaurs, the next it’s some cartoon character I’ve never heard of. Well, lately, it’s been all about this one specific train engine. ‘Victor!’ they’d yell. ‘I want Victor!’ Over and over. Drives you nuts, right?
So, yeah, I had to find this ‘Victor’. Not as easy as you’d think. Big chain stores? Forget it. They only stock the latest fads. Then I remembered this tiny, old toy shop downtown, the kind of place that smells like old cardboard and forgotten dreams. And there he was, a Trackmaster Victor, sitting on a shelf looking like he’d been there since the dawn of time. Probably was.
Brought the fella home. Kid goes wild, naturally. We rip open the box – well, I try to open it carefully, kid’s just tearing at it. Shove some batteries in. Switch him on. And… nada. Zilch. A tiny, pathetic whirring sound, like a dying fly. Oh, great. Just what I needed – a meltdown over a broken toy.
Alright, Let’s See About This Thing
Okay, I thought, I’m not a miracle worker, but I’ve taken apart a thing or two. It’s just a toy train, how hard can it be? First, the usual drill: fresh batteries. Nope, still dead as a doornail. So, I grab my trusty little screwdriver, the one that’s seen better days. Popped off the cover. The battery contacts looked a bit crusty. Typical. Gave ’em a good scrub with an old toothbrush. Then I noticed the wheels – caked in some weird gunk. Probably just shelf dust and who knows what. Cleaned those off too, just with a bit of spit and polish, more or less.
Screwed it all back together, said a little prayer to the toy gods, and flicked the switch. Whaddaya know! The little red engine sputtered and then, chugga-chugga, he was off! Not exactly breaking any speed records, but he was moving. My kid’s eyes? Popped wide open. Worth it, just for that. Saved me a tantrum, too, which is always a bonus.
Victor’s Grand Tour
Then came the real test: the track. We’ve got this ancient Trackmaster set, looks like a plastic spaghetti monster most days. But Victor, bless his little motor, he took to it like a champ. He’s a solid little guy, not like some of those flimsy new toys. He just plods along, steady and reliable. My kid was glued to him for hours, making up all these crazy stories. Funny how a bit of plastic and a motor can do that, eh?
It’s funny, the things that give you a bit of a buzz. You spend your days wrestling with spreadsheets or whatever, and then you fix a tiny toy train, and suddenly you feel like you’ve actually achieved something. More than I can say for some workdays, let me tell ya. Anyway, Victor’s now a star player in the toy lineup. And I get a bit of peace. Well, until the next ‘I want…’ phase kicks in. You know how it is.
