There exists an old wive’s tale in the smog-filled city of Glendale about a particular vending machine. It’s nearly as tall as a fully built man. Has a fresh coat of red with no signs of age. Its light whirrs in the dark, attracting moths and all those who need the candies and snacks stored inside.
When asked by those who bought from the strange vending machine, they could not reach a consensus as to where it was found. Some say they found it in an alleyway by Jackson street. Little orphan Jiminy Johnson, who found a rich loving couple to adopt him, said he found it in a heap of trash under Levee Bridge. It is quite true that the vending machine jumps and shifts places around the city of Glendale. It appears to those who need it as if the machine has a mind of its own.
How about the goods sold by the machine? A closer inspection of its varied wares would further the mystery of the machine. It sold candies and snacks from unknown brands. If they were known, it’s clear that they are copycats with an iff in the name to fool those looking for the real thing. Then a closer look would provide a deeper dive into the machine’s true intentions.
“It sold wishes' ', Jiminy Johnson said to his friends. “I thought I bought candy. Well, I did cause it tasted sweet. But that candy is strange, let me tell you that. Just as I was flipping the candy with my tongue, I made a wish. I don’t know why I did it but I forgot about that. I made a wish that somebody would adopt me. Preferably a nice family with a huge house and a dog. The last one’s important. Then wouldn’t you know it, a car stopped in front of me and a mister and missus and told me I was their son! I was like, that can’t be. I don’t even look like them, not an inch! But as I look in the reflection in the mirror, I get a nice clear face just like them. My messy auburn hair shone like gold like theirs. I don’t recognize the boy in the reflection but I knew that was me. Now I live in a mansion with my dog named Max.”
The vending machine sold wishes as much as it sold snacks and candies. For a cent, you get your deepest desires to come true. The machine hums its static tune. The bolts, pinions, and springs shone, waiting for someone to press on its weapons. There’s a lone figure in the dark, money at hand and hunger in his eyes. He came to the machine looking for a snack, little did the person know that he’s gonna get more than what he bargained for. Who bought a wish?