Barney
.

The first day of our dayshift, we were ready for roll call,

Tan Tran came on up the stairs, and trudged right down the hall.

He carried up his briefcase, his jacket and his hat,

A dejected look was on his face, as quietly he sat. 
.

He sat there saying nothing, not sure who he should tell,

Just what it was annoying him, or putting him through hell.

He listened through the briefing, but his mind was miles away,

Thinking when to speak up, and just what he should say.
.

Finally he let it out, looking for advice,

Hoping we would understand, of course we'd treat him nice.

He asked about equipment, and a place that he would find,

Replacements for some pieces, he left at home behind. 
.

It seems that during days off, this plan he undertook,

To do a little maintenance, as instructed in the book.

When all was clean and lightly oiled, he locked them all away,

Everything was ready, for starting shift today.
.

When waking up all bleary eyed, at the ungodly time of five,

He headed out to come to work, a man not quite alive.

He got into his uniform, and holstered up his gun,

Right then he knew his error, and here begins the fun.
.

Magazines and bullets, left safely at his house,

Nothing could disturb them there, not even a wee mouse.

Think of Andy Griffith, and his sidekick Fyfe the man,

Like that famous deputy, we now call him Barney Tran. 
.

PC 664 T.J. Gowdyk 97-03-19 (147)

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