Monday, May 12, 2008

Jackpot!

The vending machines at work are in the employee lounge in the basement.
It's not so much a lounge as it is a fluorescent-lit concrete bunker with a microwave, tables, and chairs.

Cozy. In a painted dungeon sort of way.

Anyway...

When I walked in to claim a bag o' chips, there were three people sitting at one table quietly eating their lunches.
I didn't recognize any of them. They looked up briefly at me, and the moment eye contact was made, we all dutifully turned away and ignored each other.

I slid a bill into the change maker.
As 5 dollars worth of coins clattered noisily into the metal cup, the sound echoing off the bare walls, I realized there would now be three pairs of eyes boring into my back.
There was only one thing for me to do.

I spun around, threw my hands in the air and shouted, "I WON!"

One snicker. A chuckle. And one voice explaining to the third person (who clearly didn't get it), "Slot machine."

I scooped my money out and moved over to the vending machines.
Bought a pack of gum for the husband, and started dropping in quarters for my chips.

One of the others was suddenly beside me feeding coins into the next machine.
I leaned close.
"This one pays off pretty good, too."

She snorted.

It was a good day.

3 comments:

Bob said...

I used to work at a place with a coffee dungeon. I can see the whole thing. Even the not-so-swuft coworker who has to have the joke explained.

Anonymous said...

Bob: I thought you looked familiar.

Hapkido said...

You got a chuckle out of me...