Life In The Gumball Machine – Vinnie And Gordy’s Return

by Maureen Bartone

  “What the heck?”

  With one hand, he lifted the blouse, and with the other hand, he used his finger to pull open the pocket and peek inside. His eyes widened and he smiled.

  “Little gumball people! Cool!”

  He thought about yesterday afternoon when all of this gumball stuff started. His mom had sent him off to find Daisy because it was getting late. She needed to get ready for her party.

  As he rode his bike up the street looking for her, he saw their bikes near an old shed. He stopped to see if the kids were in there, but all he saw was a large old gumball machine. Except for a few fingerprints, it was covered in dust.

  He was about to leave but decided he wanted a gumball. He wondered how old they were, but that didn’t stop him. He inserted a nickel into the slot at the bottom and turned the crank.

  After that, some crazy stuff started happening. He remembered his legs feeling rubbery as he watched the machine shake and bounce. When he took a closer look, he noticed some tiny people flying through the machine’s swirling tunnel. He thought he was imagining it, but he blinked and looked again. He was shocked to see his sister and her two friends. Their shrunken, tiny bodies were flying down through the tunnel of the gumball machine and, one by one, they popped out of the slot at the bottom.

  After helping them out, he watched in disbelief as Daisy and her friends jerked and stretched back to their normal shapes and sizes.

  It was a moment he’d never forget, and definitely the coolest thing he’d seen−ever! Once Daisy, Patrick, and Michael caught their breath, they told Sammie all about their magical adventure inside the gumball machine. They also told him about the neat gumball people they’d met.

  Oh, how he’d wished he could go up into that machine and take that same exciting ride. But Daisy and the boys wouldn’t let him. They said it was too dangerous and that they were lucky to have escaped unharmed. They told Sammie never to go near it and he promised them he would stay away.

  But that would be a tough promise for him to keep, especially now, as he looked at the two cute little gumball people inside Daisy’s blouse pocket. He wasn’t sure why, but they made him smile and feel warm and happy deep in his belly. Without thinking about Daisy’s reaction, he reached in and scooped them out of the blouse, and carried them across the hall to his bedroom.

  FROM DEEP INSIDE the pocket of Daisy’s yellow blouse, Vinnie and Gordy again saw a pair of large blue eyes peering down at them−though these blue eyes looked different. They were smaller, with longer lashes, and blond pieces of hair dangling in and around them.

  The two gumballs felt themselves tip to one side. Grabbing Gordy’s arm, Vinnie said, “What’s happening Gordy?”

  “I’m not sure Vinnie, but hang on. I think we’re going for another ride.”

  “Oh, no. Not another ride,” Vinnie said.

  The blue eyes disappeared as Vinnie rolled toward Gordy. The ceiling above them swayed in an arc, and then a large hand was near the opening of their soft hideout−Daisy’s blouse−as they rolled down toward it.

  They both screamed. “A-a-h-h!”

  Sammie heard their cute little squeaky voices. It sounded like they were laughing−or−were they screaming? He wasn’t sure.

  He tried to reassure them and whispered, “Hang on little buddies. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  They fell into his hand and he cupped them with his other hand. They were now in darkness as they gently bumped and rolled into each other. Back and forth. Back and forth.

  Halfway across the hall to his room, he saw his mom climbing the stairs. She was carrying a laundry basket and heading for Daisy’s room.

  “Sammie. What are you doing? What’s in your hands?”

  Sammie stopped in his tracks and lowered his hands to his waist. Vinnie and Gordy rolled forward but sensed they needed to remain still and quiet.

  His mom tilted her head and frowned. “You don’t have some kind of creature in there, do you? You know the rules−not in the house.”

  Sammie could never tell a lie. “No Mom. Just some gumballs. See?”

  He opened his hands. Gordy and Vinnie pulled their arms to their sides and scrunched their feet behind them, as they shut their eyes and stayed still. His mom glanced down and saw one white gumball and one black gumball. She looked back at Sammie and shook her head.

  “Please, don’t chew both of them at once.”

  Sammie gave her his best smile. “Okay, Mom. I won’t.”

  He turned and walked into his bedroom.

  9

  The Laundry Room

  HIS MOM CONTINUED PAST SAMMIE and into Daisy’s room. She plucked Daisy’s dirty clothes and tossed them into the basket, all the while shaking her head in disgust at Daisy’s messy room. She grabbed the yellow blouse from Daisy’s bed, threw it into the laundry basket, and walked out to the hall.

  After Daisy finished showering, she walked back toward her room. Still in her bathrobe with a towel wrapped around her head, she passed her mom in the hall.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Morning, Daisy. I’ll be down in the laundry room if you’re looking for me.”

  “Okay.”

  Daisy entered her bedroom and took the towel off her head. She pushed her wet hair away from her face and started finger-combing it. She stopped short when she saw that the yellow blouse was no longer on her bed.

  “Oh, no!”

  She turned and ran out into the hall.

  “Mom! Wait!”

  But her mom had already gone downstairs and didn’t hear Daisy calling out to her. Daisy ran down the stairs in a panic. If her mom threw Vinnie and Gordy into the wash, that would be the end of them. A large lump formed in her throat. She reached the living room and ran to the kitchen door. Once in the kitchen, she stopped short. Her dad was sitting at the table with the newspaper and a cup of coffee. He looked up when he saw Daisy.

  “Morning, sweetheart. What’s all the yelling about?”

  Daisy tried to stay calm. “Oh−hi Dad. Nothing. Just looking for Mom.”

  “She’s in the backyard with Lola.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Daisy rounded the corner and headed toward the basement stairs.

  “Daisy?”

  “What?”

  “Didn’t you hear me? I said she’s outside. Why are you going downstairs?”

  “Oh−right. I’m just looking for my yellow blouse. She put it with the dirty laundry and I left a couple of gumballs in there. They might get ruined−I mean they might ruin my shirt, so I want to get them out of there.”

  He shook his head. “Okay.”

  He didn’t understand all the commotion over a blouse and returned to reading his newspaper and sipping his coffee.

  Daisy hurried down the steep, wooden stairs to the laundry room in the basement and ran to the washing machine. She heard it running and the lump of panic returned to her throat. The laundry basket was on the floor next to the washer and Daisy took a deep breath.

  Yes!

  Her yellow blouse was at the top of the basket−and, most importantly−not in the washer.

  “Vinnie! Gordy! I’m here. I’m so sorry. Hang on and I’ll get you out of there.”

  Her dad called down to her.

  “Daisy? Who are you talking to?”

  Daisy put her hand to her mouth for a second and then called up to him. “Oh. I’m just talking to myself, Dad. I’ll be right up!”

  “Okay,” he said and went back to the kitchen table.

  Daisy gingerly picked up her yellow blouse and peeked in to comfort Vinnie and Gordy. But the pocket was empty. Her heart flip-flopped.

  They’re not here! Oh, no! Where are they?

  Her eyes scanned the basement floor, but she didn’t see them anywhere. Her legs turned rubbery and her heart pounded, as she dropped to her knees and started digging through the basket of clothes. She whispered to Vinnie and Gordy.

  “Where are you? You guys? Can you hear me? Hello? Are you here?”
/>   No response.

  She jumped up, ran to the washer and opened the top to see if she could see them.

  Please don’t be in here.

  Daisy saw a bunch of soaking dark clothes swirling around in soapy water. It was impossible to tell whether Vinnie and Gordy were in there. If they were, then that was the end for them, and she couldn’t bear the thought.

  Desperation crept through her body as she fell to her knees and crawled around the cold basement floor. She used her hands to feel for their little round bodies in the crevices of the dark and musty room. Her knees hurt and her hands were filthy from the dust and dirt, but she pressed on. It was so gross! Small cobwebs invaded the areas beneath the washer and dryer and in the far corners of the room. Something crawled across her hand, and she let out a quiet scream, wiping her hand more than she needed to.

  She sat back on her heels and put her hands to her face to press back the tears. She didn’t know what to do next.

  10

  A Magical Connection

  UP IN SAMMIE’S ROOM, Vinnie and Gordy were getting to know their new friend. They sat comfortably on a pillow on Sammie’s bed. Their little feet were stretched out in front of them and Vinnie’s hands rested behind his head.

  The two of them took an instant liking to Sammie. He was very amusing and full of energy. They watched him do tricks and flips right there in his bedroom. He even stood on his head with his feet flopping around above him. They’d never seen anyone like him, and they laughed more than they had in a long time.

  While they watched Sammie’s acrobatics, they asked him all sorts of questions. He told them that he loved sports, especially football and basketball; he told them that his big brother was a bully to him and to his sister Daisy; and he told them he thought a girl in his class named Natalie was cute, and he thought she liked him.

  Vinnie and Gordy told Sammie about their families back home in the gumball machine. They each had a wife. Gordy’s wife was Glenda. His mother also lived with him. Her name was Gertrude, but everyone just called her Grandma. Vinnie’s wife was Veronica. They each had two gumball children, and they loved teaching them and watching them learn, play, and grow.

  “That’s pretty cool,” Sammie said.

  Vinnie and Gordy nodded. It was pretty cool.

  “Don’t worry. We’ll get you back home to see your families. I’m sure Daisy and her friends will be taking you to the shed this morning. I hope they let me come with them.”

  Vinnie and Gordy nodded.

  After a while, Sammie leaned on his elbows and moved his face so it was close to his new little friends. He sang them a song. He remembered to sing quietly because he didn’t want Daisy to know he had her little gumball pals or she’d come and snatch them away before he could take them on a thrill ride.

  Vinnie and Gordy relaxed to the sound of Sammie’s voice. They’d never heard anything so sweet and pure. As he sang, he picked them up and held them in the palm of his hand. As he rocked in place, he rubbed his finger back and forth over their smooth candy shells.

  Vinnie and Gordy began to trust this little boy−well he was a large boy to them, but he was a little boy in spirit. The three of them felt a connection with each other that was difficult to put into words. It was a feeling of complete trust and love.

  While Sammie was singing his soothing song to Vinnie and Gordy, something very strange and powerful happened. Outside, it was a warm, sunny day with puffy white clouds dotting the brilliant blue sky, but inside Sammie’s room, the furniture started to rumble and the floor vibrated. There was a peculiar low humming sound, and then−everything went dark. Just outside of his bedroom window, a single bolt of lightning blasted across the sky. It was followed by a deafening thunder that rattled in Sammie’s chest. He placed Vinnie and Gordy on the pillow and curled up next to them. He had no idea what was happening, but he wasn’t afraid.

  OUTSIDE, IN THE BACKYARD with Mrs. Lannon, Lola whimpered quietly and crouched low to the ground. She sat very still, sensing something extraordinary was happening.

  “What’s wrong Lola?”

  Mrs. Lannon tried to coax the dog up from the ground and to come to her, but Lola didn’t move, turning her head to the side, listening. After a moment, she stood up and started barking up at the sky.

  “Lola! Quiet. Stop that barking.” Mrs. Lannon clapped her hands. “Lola, no!”

  But Lola wouldn’t stop, so Mrs. Lannon decided to bring her into the house. She grabbed her collar and eventually coaxed her up the porch steps and into the kitchen, where she instantly stopped barking.

  Mr. Lannon was still at the kitchen table drinking his morning coffee and reading the newspaper.

  “What’s all the barking about?” he asked.

  “I have no idea,” said Mrs. Lannon. “Lola’s acting strange. At least she stopped−for now anyway.”

  UP IN SAMMIE’S BEDROOM, Sammie and the two gumballs were quiet. After the explosion of light and sound, the room calmed and a smoky orange glow crept in and surrounded them. Sammie, Vinnie, and Gordy felt a sensation they couldn’t explain. It startled them, but they knew something mystic and enchanting had just happened between them. A special connection was formed and, though they didn’t know it at that moment, it was one that would last forever.

  Sammie sat back. He felt dazed−almost dizzy. For a moment, no one spoke. In the orange glow of his bedroom, he laid his head on his pillow next to Vinnie and Gordy and stayed still for a few moments. The room was quiet. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. As he sat there, he heard Gordy’s voice inside his head.

  That was terrifying! I’m so afraid, but this sweet boy has convinced me that we will be alright.

  Sammie opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Gordy, whose eyes and mouth were closed. He was not speaking aloud. Sammie had heard Gordy’s thoughts!

  Gordy opened his eyes and looked at Sammie. Vinnie did the same. They quickly realized what was happening. They sensed each other’s movements and they each could read the thoughts of the others.

  This was getting very weird!

  After the orange glow dissipated, and the sunlight drifted back through the window, Sammie sat up. He felt energized. His smile grew, and all he could say was, “Whoa! That was awesome! Dudes−did you feel that?”

  “I did,” Gordy said.

  “Me too,” Vinnie said. “What was it?”

  “I’m not sure what it was, but we make a pretty awesome team,” Sammie said.

  Their eyes lit with excitement as the three of them began talking at the same time, exclaiming how amazing the experience was and describing the sensations they’d felt. Then, they practiced thinking and guessing each other’s thoughts. Their guesses were right every time.

  After a while, Sammie jumped up. “Hey−do you guys want to go for a ride?”

  Vinnie and Gordy didn’t hesitate.

  “Sure!” Gordy said.

  Vinnie smiled. “We’d love to!”

  “Trust me,” Sammie said. “It’ll be a blast.”

  Vinnie nodded. “Let’s do it.”

  Sammie ran to his closet and grabbed his swimming goggles. After looking them over, he decided they wouldn’t work. He looked at Gordy and Vinnie to size them up.

  “The strap is too short.”

  Sammie tossed the goggles in the corner of his room where they landed on a pile of dirty clothes.

  Gordy and Vinnie tried to read Sammie’s mind, but Sammie was thinking a hundred things at once and they couldn’t separate them.

  “I wonder what he’s trying to do,” Gordy said.

  Vinnie shrugged.

  Sammie went back into his closet and banged and clanged around in there.

  “Aha! Found them!”

  He came out of his closet with an oversized pair of yellow sunglasses. He’d won them at the fair playing the game that shoots water from a high-powered water blaster into the mouth of a clown. He had very good aim. That was the first time he’d won a prize.

 
; He put the sunglasses on to show Gordy and Vinnie. They were huge, and Sammie looked goofy as he walked like a duck around the room. Gordy and Vinnie bent over laughing.

  Sammie looked in the mirror. They were so funny-looking that he, too, couldn’t help but laugh. They were twice the size of a normal pair of sunglasses. They nearly covered his whole face and the dark lenses hid the expression in his eyes. But still, Vinnie and Gordy could see his grin.

  He turned to them. “What do you think?”

  They both chuckled. “We love them!” Gordy said. “You look great!”

  Gordy and Vinnie were growing quite fond of Sammie. They thought he was truly something special.

  Sammie took off the sunglasses. “Cool! Okay. Now comes the tricky part. I need some tape.” He pointed at Vinnie and Gordy. “Don’t go anywhere.”

  He left his room, but quickly returned with a roll of plastic tape and two cotton balls.

  He knelt on the floor and leaned his stomach against the bed, placing the goofy sunglasses on the bed in front of him, next to Vinnie and Gordy. The two gumballs watched and wondered what this would lead to.

  Then, he reached over, plucked Vinnie from the pillow, and leaned him up against the left lens of the sunglasses. He pulled out a long stretch of tape and pressed the end of the tape on the inside of the glasses near the nose-bridge. He slid his finger, pressing to make the tape stick, and left the rest of the strip of tape hanging out of his way until he was ready.

  Next, he stuck one of the cotton balls onto the sticky part of the tape that was hanging and started pulling the tape and cotton ball around Vinnie’s waist.

  He looked at Vinnie and said, “Raise your arms, like this.” Sammie raised his arms over his head and Vinnie mimicked him.

  Sammie then placed the cotton ball at the center of Vinnie’s body and pressed the tape around to the other side of his body so it was tight against the lens. The cotton would prevent the tape from ripping off Vinnie’s candy coating. Vinnie was strapped on, but could still move his arms and feet.