The Brass Knob

One day, when I was in second grade the teacher told us we were all going on a field trip to the fire station that was just down the street from our school. I can remember all of us walking down the sidewalk like baby ducks following their mother until we got there. There were only two firemen there and they showed us around the firehouse where we got to look at the hoses and the pole that they slid down and try on their helmets. Then we got to go out and look at the trucks, one was a lot older than the other and had a longer ladder on the back. The fire chief gave us permission to climb onto the truck and most kids were climbing on the ladder or the driver seat. I was attracted to all the shiny brass knobs and levers that were on the side near the top. One looked like a gearshift ball and I started playing with it until it came unscrewed. I looked around to see if anyone saw me and then put it in my pocket. When it was time to leave the teacher called for all of us to get in line and wait while she thanked the firefighters. I noticed that the fire chief was pointing to the old truck as he was talking to our teacher and I thought he discovered his brass knob was awol. I panicked and ditched it behind a tree until I saw him go into the firehouse and the teacher began marching us back to school then I retrieved it and put it back in my pocket. I kept it in my desk at school and would always shine it up with my shirt. I told kids it was made of gold and was some family heirloom, one kid requested that I show it for show and tell and I did. Sometimes I wonder what ever happened to that brass knob.