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

by Maureen Bartone

  “A‑a‑h‑h!”

  Lola continued running around the corner and out of the backyard.

  As Vinnie and Gordy crashed to the ground, each felt a sharp pain sear across their candy‑coated shells. They rolled into a patch of tall grass a couple of feet into Sammie’s mom’s garden, barely missing a large rock.

  At the same time, Sammie stopped short. A biting pain raced up his back. He slowed to a jog, and then skipped on one leg.

  “O-w-i-e!”

  He stopped and limped a few feet.

  Uh-oh, this is not good. How could I hurt my back this bad just from running?

  He bent over and put his hands on his thighs and took a couple of long, slow breaths, hoping it would help the pain. It didn’t. He couldn’t understand how this intense pain could be from running. He lifted his head and looked up at the clouds. At that moment, he knew what was happening. He paced in a circle, breathing deeply.

  I’m feeling Vinnie and Gordy’s pain. Wow. This is so weird!

  He realized that that was no ordinary thunder and lightning outside his bedroom this morning. That mystic moment unified the three of them. And now, their pain was his pain. His pain was theirs.

  He tried to straighten up but only made it halfway. He squeezed his eyes shut and scratched his head.

  Strange.

  In his head, he heard them calling out to him, but he didn’t know where they were. Sammie listened for their calls. He stumbled around until he thought he heard something over by his mom’s garden. He fell to his knees and felt around with his fingers. He heard his name being called from somewhere below.

  13

  Shared Pain

  AFTER VINNIE AND GORDY CRASH-LANDED and stopped rolling, they found themselves on their backs. Looking up through the tall, green blades of grass, they saw even thicker green stems with beautiful pink and yellow petals up near the top. Beyond the pretty flowers, they saw the pale blue sky spanning across the horizon. They lay motionless for a moment, hoping their heads would stop rattling.

  After a few minutes, Gordy sat up and looked around. They were in a jungle of thick grass. Vinnie lay next to him, his eyes closed. He was moaning and wriggling back and forth.

  “What’s wrong Vinnie? Are you hurt?” Gordy said.

  “Yes−Gordy, I’m hurt. I think my shell is cracked. Can you check?”

  Gordy rolled Vinnie onto his side and saw a large crack in his shell that extended almost completely around his back and up his side.

  “Vinnie. Don’t be alarmed, but yes, your shell is cracked. It doesn’t look good.”

  “Don’t be alarmed? How can I not be alarmed? How bad is it?” He tried to turn to see but stopped short.

  “Ooh! It hurts so much!”

  “Okay. Just lay still. I need to find a way to get us out of here. I’m going to look for Sammie. I’ll be back soon.”

  “Okay, but don’t forget where I am,” Vinnie said.

  “Oh, right. Good point.” Gordy looked around. “Okay, yes. I see a large rock and two flowers−a pink one and a yellow one−and the yellow one has a broken leaf.”

  He went up on his toes and reached to grab the broken leaf. Once he had a grip on it, he bent it down toward him and tore off another large piece.

  “I’ll tear this leaf into tiny pieces and leave a trail behind me so I can follow it back to you. I’ll be back soon, okay?”

  “Okay Gordy−but try to hurry,” Vinnie said.

  Gordy nodded. “I’ll go as fast as I can.”

  As he turned to go, he started tearing off small pieces of the leaf and leaving them on the ground as he passed. He used his elbows to push through the thick, tall blades of grass, calling out to Sammie.

  After walking for several minutes, he heard Sammie’s faint voice, calling his name. Gordy jumped up and down, pushing through the blades of grass and waving his arms.

  “Over here Sammie! I’m here!”

  Gordy looked up at the sky and saw Sammie’s huge head come into view. He peered down into the grass. Gordy tried talking to Sammie through his mind.

  Sammie. Look down. I’m right here!

  Gordy saw Sammie’s eyes light up.

  I hear you, Gordy!

  Sammie started feeling around in the grass, and Gordy waited and watched him get closer and closer.

  He tried shouting at him again. “Can you hear my voice yet Sammie?”

  Gordy waited for a response, but Sammie still couldn’t hear him. He watched as Sammie’s blond curls blew across his face, a grave look in his eyes as he crawled on his hands and knees through the grass.

  At least he’s getting closer.

  Gordy knew it wouldn’t be long before Sammie spotted him. He stayed where he was and waited. Sammie disappeared from Gordy’s view for a moment. Then, from the corner of his eye off to his left, he saw something move, making the blades of green grass rustle and bend.

  “Sammie? Is that you?”

  Why can’t I see him? He’s a giant.

  More rustling. It was getting louder and he felt a rumbling beneath his feet. He kept his eyes pinned to the moving grass. That’s when he saw something. It was large and black, and it was crawling through the grass headed straight for him.

  What is that?

  A creature was charging him. It had a round, black head that hung low, with long, wiry tentacles hanging out ahead of it. Behind its head, were two long, round sections connected together. It had six long legs−three on either side−that helped it navigate across the grassy terrain. Gordy was certain that it was the ugliest, scariest thing he’d ever laid eyes on, and he turned in the opposite direction and ran.

  The creature saw Gordy’s movement and chased after him. Hiding behind blades of grass was useless.

  This monster can smell my bubblegum scent!

  The creature seemed to know exactly where Gordy was and continued its hunt for something sweet.

  Gordy wobbled and ran as fast as he could, but, because gumball people have no legs, running with just feet under a round body is difficult. He knew he had to pick up his pace, so he tucked in his arms and feet and began to roll. Back home in the gumball machine, he could roll his body whenever he wanted, and as fast as he wanted. But here, the grass and bumpy terrain made it nearly impossible.

  The earth thundered beneath him as the ugly creature prepared to lunge. Gordy knew if he didn’t do something fast, the creature would catch him and probably eat him for lunch.

  So he turned and faced it, head-on. It was running right at him−closer−closer−and then−Gordy pulled back his arm and swung it forward.

  Boink!

  He popped the ugly black creature right in the nose. The monster made no sound but stumbled back on its hind legs. Gordy thought it would tip over, but it held on, staying upright, though its eyes were swirling and his head hung near the ground, swinging back and forth.

  “O-w-i-e!” Gordy pulled back his hand, shook it up and down a few times, and then rubbed the pain in his knuckles with his other hand.

  It was only seconds and the ugly creature recovered from Gordy’s blow and glared at its target. Gordy stood strong, fists in front of him, ready for a new battle.

  “Come on!” Gordy shouted. “You want a piece of me?” He rolled his fists in a circle, ready to pop him again. The creature shook his head and blinked his eyes at Gordy.

  From above, Gordy heard Sammie say, “Go away ant! Shoo!”

  Then Gordy saw Sammie’s long finger come down in the grass and flick the ant until he was far enough away and started walking in a different direction.

  Gordy sat down in the grass and took a deep breath.

  That was close!

  He put his hands on his face for a moment and collected himself.

  Sammie slowly brushed aside the grass and saw the tiny white gumball looking up at him.

  “There you are, Gordy! Are you alright? Where’s Vinnie? I’m so sorry. All of this is my fault.”

  Gordy was relieved to see Sammie�
�s large face and big blue eyes.

  “I think I’m okay,” he said. “I have a couple of small cracks in my shell. But Vinnie is not good. He has a very long crack in his back. He’s over there near a big rock.”

  Sammie reached for him. “Should I pick you up?”

  Gordy put his hands out in front of him and shook his head. “No, I won’t know where he is from up there. Just follow me−but don’t lose me.”

  Gordy turned toward the direction of the large rock and started jogging, following his path of torn leaves.

  “Do you see the rock Sammie?”

  Sammie crawled around the grass near the flowers, trying to ignore the pain in his back and side.

  “I see it!” He moved the grass around with his hands. “I found him. Over here Gordy!”

  Gordy ran through the grass near an open patch of dirt and saw Vinnie lying there, motionless. He walked up to him and leaned in to speak.

  “Vinnie. Can you hear me?”

  Vinnie opened his eyes. His voice cracked as he whispered to Gordy. “Did you find Sammie?”

  “I’m up here, Vinnie.”

  Vinnie’s tired and glassy eyes looked up at Sammie, and at that moment, they knew they felt each other’s pain. But when Sammie looked at the crack around Vinnie’s back and side, he knew it was much worse than he’d imagined.

  Vinnie’s voice was weak. “Oh, hi Sammie. Thank goodness. I’m not feeling very well,” he said. “My back is pretty messed up. You need to help us get back home. Can you do that?”

  Sammie sat down in the grass and began to cry. He turned to Gordy. “He looks terrible! What are we going to do?”

  “We need to get him back home,” Gordy said. “He needs to get to Pudding Hill−soon−or he won’t make it. Do you understand Sammie? We only have a few hours.”

  Wiping his tears, Sammie nodded, but still, he didn’t move. He was afraid, and his back ached.

  Gordy looked over at Vinnie, who moaned quietly, his eyes closed. He then looked at Sammie, who was holding his side and biting his lip. Two remaining tears rolled down his cheeks. Gordy could see that Sammie’s pain was getting worse, too.

  “Sammie! We have to go−now!”

  Gordy’s stern voice snapped Sammie to attention. He took a deep breath and nodded. Fighting through his pain, he scooped up his tiny, injured friends.

  “I’ll get you guys back home, Gordy. I promise.”

  He looked around the backyard. Lola was long gone. He’d have to worry about her later, but he knew he’d be in trouble for letting her get loose. His mom would not be happy. Holding Vinnie and Gordy out in front of him, he tried to stand up, but the pain was too much, and he sat back down.

  I just need a minute.

  As soon as he caught his breath, he’d go find Daisy and the others so they could help him get Vinnie and Gordy back into the gumball machine.

  14

  Joe and Zach

  JOE AND HIS BEST FRIEND, ZACH, were rustling around the kitchen for something to eat, when Joe noticed his little brother, Sammie, running outside with the dog.

  He sure is acting goofy.

  “Hey, Zach. Check this out. What do you think Sammie’s doing out there with Lola?”

  “Ha ha! Whatever it is, it looks pretty hilarious. Your dog has sunglasses on, dude. What’s up with that?” Zach headed for the door. “Let’s check it out.”

  Joe followed him out the kitchen door, but Sammie and Lola were gone.

  “Where’d they go?” Zach asked.

  “He’s gonna’ get it. He can’t let Lola out of the yard. Let’s go rat on him to my mom.”

  They turned back and went into the kitchen. Joe pushed the door open and stuck his head into the living room.

  “Mom! Sammie took Lola out of the yard!” No answer.

  “She didn’t hear me. I’ll tell her later.”

  Looking out the kitchen window, Zach said, “Dude. Sammie’s back out there, but it looks like he lost Lola. He looks pretty upset.”

  “Oh man, he’s in major trouble. Let’s go.”

  They returned to the back porch and started down the stairs. They saw Sammie sitting near the flowers at the back of the yard. They walked over to see what he was doing.

  Sammie saw Joe and Zach coming, and he felt the same butterflies in his belly he always gets when Joe comes charging toward him. He quickly placed Vinnie and Gordy on the ground under a large leaf to hide them from his awful brother.

  Joe’s hands were in his pockets, and the smug look on his face told Sammie he was in trouble. Sammie was Joe’s favorite target. He loved to trip him, hit him in his head, and shove him into things like doors, countertops, and walls. And if he didn’t shove him, he’d call him names or tease him. He was a mean big brother and a horrible person, and Sammie was always terrified of him.

  “Well, well. Look who’s here. What’s up Sammie? Where’s Lola? I already told Mom you let her out of the backyard. She is mad.” Joe smiled to himself. Another lie.

  Sammie ignored Joe and glanced at the large leaf hiding his two friends.

  Joe’s eyes narrowed. “What are you doing back here? Why are you rustling around in the flowers?”

  “It’s nothing,” Sammie said. He looked up at his brother.

  Joe raised his eyebrows. “Nothing? Really? Then you won’t mind if I do this, will you?” He started kicking and stomping on the plants.

  Sammie pushed at Joe’s leg hoping he’d fall. “Stop it! You’ll kill them!”

  Joe stopped and looked down at Sammie. “Kill what Sammie?”

  Sammie looked up at his brother, who looked bigger and meaner than usual. Joe lifted his leg and held it there. “Tell me Sammie. Or I swear I’ll stomp on all of these flowers.”

  Sammie gave in. He had no choice. He had to save Vinnie and Gordy from being smooshed to death by Joe’s monster feet. He reached under the large leaf and scooped Vinnie and Gordy into his hand and then covered them with his other hand.

  Joe couldn’t believe he’d already wasted this much time with his bratty little brother. But now, he was curious.

  Reaching for Sammie’s hands, he said, “What do you have there? Let me see.”

  Sammie pulled his hands close to his chest. “Wait. I’ll show you.”

  Joe let his hands rest at his sides. Sammie knew he had to show them, or Joe would try to yank Vinnie and Gordy from his hands and he didn’t want Vinnie’s crack to get worse.

  Still cupping Vinnie and Gordy, one hand underneath them, and one over them, Sammie tried to play it cool, hiding his pain as best he could.

  “It’s nothing. Just some gumballs, see?”

  He lifted his top hand and tried to act as if Vinnie and Gordy were just ordinary gumballs.

  “Sweet! Can I have one?” Zach reached for Sammie’s hand and Sammie quickly pulled it back.

  “Stop! No! You can’t have one!”

  Joe let out a low, growling laugh as he and Zach circled Sammie. Joe held his little brother’s arm while Zach tried to grab his hand. As they spun Sammie in a circle, he closed his hand to keep Vinnie and Gordy from flying out. But he was so worried about Vinnie, he decided to give in and show them.

  “Stop! You’ll hurt them. Stop!”

  Joe and Zach let go of Sammie and he stumbled back.

  Joe narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean, we’ll ‘hurt them’?”

  He grabbed Sammie’s hand. “Give me those gumballs.”

  “No!”

  Still cupping Vinnie and Gordy in his hand, Sammie pulled it behind his back. Joe pinched Sammie’s other arm until he screamed.

  “Let me see, Sammie. Show me those gumballs again or I swear I’ll squeeze this skinny little arm of yours even tighter.”

  Joe sneered and tightened his pinch. Sammie moaned as his knees bent. His back, and now his arm, were in agony, so he gave in.

  “Okay, okay! Stop! I’ll show you.”

  Joe let go of his arm, and Sammie opened his hand. Gordy was sitting up, but Vinn
ie was lying in Sammie’s hand, his feet and hands were limp. He blinked his eyes, but that was the only indication that he was alive.

  Joe and Zach leaned in, and their jaws dropped.

  “Whoa! What do you have there, Sammie?”

  Joe reached for the tiny gumball people and again Sammie pulled back his hand.

  “Careful! Careful! He’s hurt. His shell is cracked. We need to help them get back home−now.”

  “Back home?” Zach laughed. “Where’s that? Gumball Land? Ha ha!”

  He and Joe gave each other a high-five. They had no concern for the injured gumballs. They just thought they were cool and wanted to hold them.

  Sammie shook his head. “They need to get back to the gumball machine. That’s their home. They live there.”

  The pain in Sammie’s back was getting worse. He shifted his feet, but that didn’t help. He wished he could sit down.

  “You two wouldn’t understand,” he said. “Daisy, Patrick, and Michael were up there yesterday. It’s a real place, and that’s where these guys came from. We need to get them back there.”

  Joe gave Sammie his sweetest smile. “Sure, Sammie. Give them to me. We’ll help you get these cute little guys back home.”

  Sammie fell for it. His arms and hands were getting tired of holding Vinnie and Gordy, so he gave them to Joe. He was relieved and glad the older boys would help him.

  After safely handing them over to him, Joe said, “Ha! I tricked you. You’re not too smart, are you Sammie?”

  “No!” Sammie’s scream hurt his back. “Give them back to me!”

  Joe and Zach laughed as they pushed Sammie away and leaned in to take a closer look at the cool gumball dudes.

  “Oh boy. We could have a lot of fun with these little guys, huh Zach?”

  15

  Where Are They?

  UP IN DAISY’S ROOM, Patrick suggested they search everywhere. “We can’t give up,” he said.

  Michael looked under Daisy’s bed. “It’s a good sign that they aren’t in the laundry room,” he said.