Incite Full

As a child, vending machines were not common place at my elementary school outside the teachers lounge. But in middle school, the wonderful world of 3-foot-drop candy became a reality, and there was great rejoicing for all things chocolate or sweet.

Upon several occasions, the kids would be around when this chest of goodies was being refilled, and it was probably every child’s silent (stealth, even) dream that the man would just surprise us all and turn around and start handing out the candy or soda. Free of charge, because we earned it, right?

Later on in life we would realize the man had a breakdown and went nuts. Bonkers, I believe, is the technical term. But we would grip that cavity filled day with a sweetness that could not be replaced, unlike our teeth.

Today coming into work, the coke machine guy was restocking. I flashed back to many failed – and silent- attempts at free cola, and thought to myself: We’re both adults here. I’m sure If i just walked up to him, and said “c’mooooon” he’d understand the gist.

The gist, is that he was also once a child, and he could make a still-a-boy-man-child’s day, right then and there. Of course I could probably never tell anyone, not for a weeks of course. And then it’d be a personal treasure, much like the coke bottle I would keep, and something I could never share with a person. No one would understand my love for the soda man.

No one.