The Vending Machine

So, here is a story that some of you know, but some of you don't.  Recently I have been asked about this experience by a couple of my siblings, and I thought it would make a pretty good blog post.

When I was about 8 or 9 (we lived in a trailer park), there was a vending machine near the manager's house.  Being the sugar addict that I am, I would often buy candy from the vending machine.  This particular day my brother, John, was tagging along with me and my friend.  He was begging me to buy him something too.  I kept telling him no.  He had his own money.  Why should I buy him candy?!?  When I got to the vending machine, he was still right by my side.  I put my money in, and as I pushed the button of the candy I wanted, he pushed what he wanted too.  And then, a miracle happened.  My candy came out, and so did his.  Wait, it gets better...someone had the idea to push the coin return, and I got my money back. 

We weren't stupid.  We continued putting the money in and pushing as many buttons as we could at the same time, to maximize our buying power.  By this time, my sister Sandy had joined the fun, and another friend, Joey.  (We fondly referred to him as yellow teeth...weren't we so kind?!?)  Within a few minutes, we had the entire vending machine emptied.  Best day of my life!  We divided up the candy and each had a bag full.  I remember walking around the neighborhood living up the moment.  I started my candy binge with one of my least favorite kinds of candy, a nut roll.

Delicious...not.  By the time I was about half way through the candy bar, I started feeling really guilty, along with my sister, Sandy.  (John was apparently void of this feeling at his young age.)  Despite our friends', and brother's utter confusion, we confessed what we'd done to our mother.  She told us we needed to give the candy back and pay for what we had eaten.  We took the candy back to the manager and gave him the money we owed.  Yes, we made the right choice in the end, and yes it felt better than having a whole vending machine's worth of candy.