EPISODE 580 “ANDREW PULLED ANOTHER STUNT TODAY” (TALE OF THE GUMBALL MACHINE, JULY 24, 1978)
alan skeoch
May 13,2022
“Andrew pulled another stunt today at the supermarket ,” wrote Marjorie way back in 1978
which we will call the Gumball caper. Let me try to put the story in the first person.
“Gumball machine over there.”
“Trust the supermarket to do that.”
“Mom?”…”Gumball?”
“No, Shopping fast today.”
(long pause while Marjorie shopped)
“Where is Andrew?”
“I called but he didn’t come….where is he?”
“Notice the crowd over there at the entrance….hope not Andrew in centre.”
“He is…got his hand stuck in the gumboil machine…”
“Didn’t put a quarter in….”
“Got his hand wedged up the gumball slot. Trying to reach the gumballs.”
“Andrew?”
“Hand got caught, Mom..still caught…these people are trying to help.”
(about ten people gathered around.)
“Does it hurt?”
“Sort of hurts”
Picture of Monster Gumball machine…Not Andrew in picture but you can see how tempting
the size of the slot would be to a Guball thief. Never ever seen such a gumboil machine.
“Get the manager, Alan”
“Manager is away trying to phone the vending machine people.”
“Yaaa! This hurts, mom.”
“I know.”
“Tell Kevin (brother) to stop laughing at me, mom”
“Here comes the manager with a screw driver.”
“Twisting…smashing the gumball machine….only way to get his hand out.”
People gathered around. Most of them smiling. A few, however, were concerned about Andrew.
“There! Got his hand out at least.”
“Still part of the machine around his wrist.”
“Like a bracelet.”
“More like a handcuff.”
“Just one simple question, Andrew.”
:What, dad?”
“Did you manage to get a gumboil?
alan
Post script…Marjorie’s Note July 24, 1978