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Body aching, I stand in the dusty corner of the commons. It seems as if I have been standing forever, as a matter of fact, I cannot remember the last time I sat down. When I look at the mirror across the hall at the correct angle I can see the vending machine next to me. Our necks are stiff so we can not turn them and look face to face. She is shorter than I. We met in 1999 when APS started selling Pepsi exclusively. She was already here when I came to replace Grandpa Cola who died when some kid kicked him too hard. Her name is Snacks and we have been going steady since the summer of 1999 when we had alone time.
The "A" lunch bell just rang and I am starved. Not very many people fed me their greens this morning. As the line forms in front of me I flex my abdomen so that it does not hurt when the humans punch in their selections. I remember the ones who hit my buttons hard. When they insert their dollar, I spit it out. They insert their dollar again and I spit it out. I like to see their angry, dehydrated faces clench. I laugh. When the humans hear me laugh, they think it is the soda being dispensed.
Here comes Mr. Hennig, the principal. He comes occasionally. He looks like he is in an exceptionally good mood today. I can change that. He inserts his dollar and I hold it in my mouth for approximately five seconds. He presses the Mountain Dew button. I spit the dollar out. He unfolds the corners of the dollar and inserts it again. I spit it out quickly, making it fly across the commons. A student picks it up and pockets it. While Mr. Hennig runs after the student to get his dollar back, a line of five people forms. Mr. Hennig finally gets his dollar back and when he notices the line, goes outside, probably to a different vending machine. I hear Snacks laugh. She knows why I did that to Mr. Hennig. It is because he kicked her when trying to get a Snickers this morning. Snacks did not let him have it because it is unhealthy. He kicked her many times and she was in so much pain that she had to drop it. The five people in line purchased their sodas. Mr Hennig came back. He probably has issues with the other vending machines. He inserted his dollar. This is the moment I have been saving for my whole life. I spit out the thousand pennies that I have accumulated over the years. They bounce all over the commons like carbonation bubbles. Many people are tripping. Mr. Hennig's face turns scarlet red. Somebody pulls the fire alarm. Snacks laughs. This is better than expected. Mr. Hennig turns and holds his fist as if he is going to punch me in the chest. Intelligently, he decides to not punch me. That will teach Mr. Hennig not to mess with the vending machines.
By the time the custodians clean the pennies, and the students are calm, "B" lunch is over. Snacks and I talk about the exciting lunch.
Mr. Hennig walks into the commons. Back for more, I think . He stands in front of me and stares. I growl and he takes a step back. He pulls out a cell phone and dials. He says, "This is the principal of Sandia High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we have been having some problems with your vending machine and I was wondering if we could get a replacement." He listens into the phone. " No. It is permanently broken, I want it replaced." His face lightens. "Okay, great! I'll see you tomorrow morning."
Oh no! I am being replaced. Snacks sighs.
The last night at Sandia High School is horrible. Snacks and I cry for many hours. I tell her that I love her and she says to write or call. We talk about our memories and the summers of peace until she says that she must go to bed in order to get up for work tomorrow. I go to sleep too.
The next morning, when it is still dark I wake up because I am being moved. As they haul me away, I get to see Snacks face to face for the second time. The first time, being when I moved to Sandia. She looks old and tired. I whisper goodbye. She flashes, "I love you," on her LCD screen. I also see the replacement Pepsi machine, a young athletic looking kid. I worry for Snack's loneliness. I am loaded into the empty truck. It will be a long ride. My time at Sandia was wonderful and full of excitement and I regret the prank that I pulled on Mr. Hennig, but my time has come. Like all vending machines, I must be replaced.
Copyright 2001 Andrew.
All rights reserved.