Humor · poetry · Writing

Gumball Machine Ring

Amy

I’m sure you don’t remember

That day when I saw you at the grocery store

It was three years ago

I had just seen you somewhere else

Sometimes I like to spend quarters

At the gumball machines

(High stakes finance these days)

I was trying to get a real gemstone ring

(They’re real to me)

But I kept ending up with plastic

Claddagh

Puffy hearts

A slug (?)

And initial rings that looked like candy

I was concentrating

Crouched in front of the gumball machine

Turning the silver knob

Hoping for the gemstone

Just like when I was a kid

And I got a real mood ring

Anyway

I heard

“Two times in one day?“

I knew your voice instantly

I turned my head to look at you

Standing there with a grin

As you blocked the egress

And old ladies tutted you

You were oblivious

Your cart filled with toilet paper

“I’m busy getting a gemstone

And you’re blocking traffic“

I couldn’t help but smile

My tone fake stern

The people behind you were forming a 15 person queue

You left and I went back to spinning the silver dial

Kind of like Russian Roulette with quarters

Anyway

The next spin got me a puffy plastic blue initial ring that looked like candy

It was your initial

I had no more quarters

I went to my car and loaded it up

I saw your car still there in the parking lot

A thought popped into my head

I giggled and grabbed the ring

I ran to your car

You were surprised

Out of breath

I said

“Here, this is for you

It’s a real gemstone”

You were perplexed, but took it

I turned to run back to my car

Smiling

You yelled after me

“Hey, does this mean we’re engaged?”

I turned around

Far away now

“Yeah!” I yell-laughed

I giggled all the way back to my car

Maybe we should get married

At the playground?

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Published by Amy

I love words. And animals. Photography and fedoras. Welcome. And stay awhile.

37 thoughts on “Gumball Machine Ring”

  6. I name my car too or my kids do! My husband has a black SUV named Toothless after my daughter’s favorite childhood movie. I’m currently driving a white car called my, “Baby Prius.” Loved your post!

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