<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1264" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>If Dr. Seuss was a piano tech...</DIV> <DIV><STRONG><U></U></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG><U>The Tooner</U></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Twas the noon hour and time I = must toon.  Mrs. Jones was waiting and wanting it soon.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Back and forth, up and down, where's the address, I = keep driving 'round!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>The time is ticking, the clock ticks it's toc, I = must try to hurry around the next block!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>At last I saw what I came to see, a mail box with numbers, one two and three.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>As I knocked on the door catching my breath, a woof = bow wow from the right, then the left!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I hope he is friendly, the fur I will see.  I = do like to happy and bouncy puppy!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>The door swang it's swing and there dressed in = black, the dear Mrs. Jones who I had called back.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Her slippers were worn, her hair was a mess, but I = hadn't the time to care how she dressed.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Where's the piano, the tinkler box?  = S</FONT><FONT size=2>he pointed behind her, the box with a vox.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Right away I could tell there was trouble.  Not = just a bit but a double double trouble!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>For there it was, right there at hand,  a = piano called "Grand" but it actually stands!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>A spinet in fact, not a thing one could brag.  = It was old, it was dirty, it was everything sad.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I opened my case with the tools of my trade.  = What I opened next just made me pray.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>It was flat as flat can be as it sat, it had spills = inside and fur from the cat.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>There were stains on the keys and parts that were broke, and a smell that smelled like cigarette smoke.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>As I looked at the works that failed to do so, I = noticed a mouse that died long ago.  The felt was all eaten just wouldn't you know!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I took out my vacuum and vacuumed the mess, the = droppings it left and the unwanted guest.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Finally at last the cleaning was done, time to = move on to the next bit of fun.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>With lever in hand and placed on a pin, I = turned on my tooner so I could begin.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>With a flick of the wrist the pitch then = did twitch, upward and onward without a glitch.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>But then what I heard from a string that was = wound, a "pop" from inside, just a horrible sound!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>All at once I knew what had happened, a = string had unstrung, and a damp would not dampen!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I cursed the piano, this pile of rust!  This thing will not play, it's not worth the fuss.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Holding my tongue I moved on to the next, and = the next and the next and the next and the next.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>At last I was done but the job was not over.  I = must fix the string, and parts broken moreover!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I undid the levers, the things that all move, I took = them apart and then used my glue.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Over an hour I tinkered away, at least the = parts would then partly play.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I closed up my case and wrote out a bill.  = The piano was awful but junior was thrilled.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Not a minute to waste, I checked out her = check.  All was in order and I hastened my step.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>To my ride I then flew fast out the door.  This is just the beginning, I still have two more!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I started the motor and motored away, wishing that = this was the end of my day.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I looked at my watch, I was late once again!  = Where is my map, where is my pen!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I rushed down the road, I must try to = leave sooner, but that's how it is in the life of = a tooner.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Rob Goodale, RPT</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Las Vegas, NV</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>