Kund, the garbage truck, bumped merrily along the quiet streets. It was still early, and most of the cars were still dozing, waiting for their owners to get up, get dressed and go to work, or to school or kindergarten with the children.
Of course, on the days when Kund was there, there wasn't much left for the alarm clocks to do. The trash clattered and rattled loudly as he picked it up. With a loud thud, the garbage pounded in his stomach.
- Let's go! - Muki whined, and they rolled on to the next gate.
He loved his job as a garbage truck, proud to help take out the trash and keep the city clean. He didn't mind that it got dirty and smelly in the process.
- I'm a garbage truck, I can take the dirt! - he used to say sometimes, when someone looked at him with a scowl.
But today, after all the bins had been emptied, he headed for the laundry.
- Muki! Clean me thoroughly, please! I want to be clean and fragrant inside and out. There's a big party tonight at the depot, with all the city's working vehicles! The buses, the sprinkler trucks, the road repair machines, everyone who counts! New fire trucks are coming to the station, and we're throwing a party in their honor.
Muki didn't spare any effort, he crossed Kundo twice.
He was so clean that when he rolled out of the washing machine, the sun's rays fell on his back and sparked him with laughter. It was beautiful and fragrant!
He was happy to rush to the ceremony. However, as he entered the gate, a road roller happily exclaimed:
- Look, not only new fire trucks, but also a new garbage truck for the city!
Wow! Kund suddenly didn't know what was happening. Suddenly, everyone gathered around him. They looked at him, stroked him, even hung a wreath of flowers on him.
He tried to explain that he was not a newcomer, but no one could hear his confused words over the noise of the cheering. They lined him up next to the fire trucks, admired him, even took his picture.
When the event was over and everyone went home, he was still looking at himself in the window mirror.
- I will never get dirty again! - he decided and the next morning he tried to lift the first bin as carefully as possible.
He could even pick it up, true, but then he didn't want to pour the rubbish into his nice clean and fragrant container.
- What's got into you? - Muki asked when she saw her friend stumbling.
- I don't want to get dirty! - Kund complained.
- After all, you can take a bath again after work! - Muki replied, but it was no use trying to convince him.
They argued until an uncle came out of one of the houses. He shuffled over to the bins in his baggy pyjamas and was annoyed to see that they were still full. He shook his head and grumbled to Muki.
- We needed this fancy new garbage truck! If you can't do your job! By this time he'd have paid for himself! He knew what he was doing!
- But it's me!" said Kund, ashamed, and immediately got to work.
It rattled and rattled, the rubbish fell into the tank.
- Let's move on! - Muki whined and they walked through the houses.
At the end of the street, a huge puddle stood in their way. Kund rolled merrily across it. Mud splattered left and right, and now the garbage truck was a mess inside and out.
- So, it's not so bad that you got dirty? - Muki smiled.
- I'm a trash truck, that's how I work! I enjoy being glamorous, but it's better to be useful! - Kund laughed and happily collected the rubbish, leaving clean streets and happy people in his wake.
If you want a garbage truck mug, check out the Story Plate page!