The sound of an ice cream truck is pure joy to the kids at the Mattapoisett town beach. From a distance they hear that distinct ding-a-ling of kids’ nursery rhymes growing closer and closer up the street. Parents begin digging through their bags or wallets for loose change, standing up to walk the kids over. Within a matter of seconds the truck pulls in and the kids come running up.

And there he is: Joe Silvestre, the ice cream man.

With a thick, Portuguese accent he greets the happy customers. Kids point at the colorful picture menu on the side of the truck displaying Spider-Man bars, Jolly Rancher popsicles and Sno-Cones.

Pam Hillard, who works at the beach, says everyone knows Joe. She waves as Joe leans over the counter and looks over.

“He comes here every day at the same time. Everyone loves him.”

The line is long, but Joe moves fast, taking requests and reaching into his cooler of treats and taking money. Everything is $2.50, except for cups of ice cream or sherbet. He adds everything up in his head. It’s not long before the line trickles out and Joe waits for more business. Within a few more minutes he gets back in the driver’s seat and takes off toward Ned’s Point.

Jose Silvestre has been driving an ice cream truck for 20 years. He’s out seven days a week hitting up towns like Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett and Marion. Silvestre also does events like parties or festivals.

“My wife tells me to take a day off,” he jokes. “I tell her I will someday! But she helps me out on weekends sometimes too. It’s nice.”

Normally he fires up the ’98 Ford E-350 around noon and spends several hours driving up and down the various towns. Weekdays are usually slow, he says, but weekends do very well. It’s important that he comes by every day and follows the same route because repetition is the best way to get customers. And to pay for an older, gas-guzzling machine Silvestre says he needs all the business possible.

“I spend about $300 a week in gas,” he says. “But on weekends I can make $400 or more. And I like driving. I like seeing the people. After 20 years you see the same kids coming back year after year. You sort of grow up with them, in a sense.”

Silvestre is a rare breed in that he is an independent ice cream driver and gets his supply from the Bliss Bros. Distribution in Attleboro. Many drivers are under one company, such as Perry’s Last Stand in Wareham, and earn commission. Along the route to Crescent Beach he spots one of Perry’s drivers coming back.

He smiles and waves just like he would to any customer. Apparently there isn’t much of an ice cream person rivalry in the area.

“I’m not worried,” he says. “I do very well here. The people all know me.”

This is apparent when he slowly navigates through the narrow lanes and stops in front of several houses for customers.  His attitude is always high-spirited. On one occasion, a kid drops his Sno-Cone in the sand. Silvestre gladly gets a new one. Later, a dad doesn’t have enough change. No problem, Joe says. I’ll be back tomorrow.

“That’s how you do business,” he says with a smile.

Before backing around he explains he careful he has to be.

“Sometimes you have four or five kids around the truck, and only a few of them walk. Others might hang around behind the truck. You never know. So when they come up I’m always counting and looking out for them, even when I do business.”

Being an ice cream man is only a part time job for Silvestre. During the school year he is a bus driver for Dartmouth High School.

“Around August 15 the ice cream business slows down,” he says.  “School starts back up. And the kids are going to the stores more often for clothes or supplies and usually get ice cream there.”

By September, Silvestre parks the truck and leaves it sitting until May. During this time he’ll do repairs to the truck and prepare for another season.

“We may all work for the money,” he says, “but money isn’t everything sometimes. You have to like your job. If you do, things are easy. And I love this job. I love meeting new people and seeing the kids.”