The World Of Vending

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Chapter One 

Before The “Big Drop”  

“Here come the new recruits!” 

Chips looked with pride over the new arrivals. He respectfully waited until everyone lined up in the proper order. Once again, his world was full. No one had appointed him as spokesman, but he felt the need to welcome everyone and answer any questions that they may have.  

“If I can have everyone’s attention please. On behalf of the staff already here, I want to welcome all you new arrivals to the world of Vending,” Chips said in his best authoritative voice.  “I am sure you have many questions, and many of you are probably bewildered and confused. Let me assure you that everything is normal, and you will be fine. Of course, all of you just came from the Great Box where everyone was stacked pretty close to each other. But now, you have plenty of room to stand and work your way forward until you are chosen for the ‘Big Drop.’”  

“Look at that idiot,” muttered Crackers. “He tries to be somebody, but he ain’t got enough salt about him to be of any use to anyone.”  

Chips shot a glance at Crackers, but continued to speak with the new arrivals, “Now all of us follow the Order of Things. You have been placed in this world with ones who are your peers. Please do not try to break rank and move to another area. If you do it will only cause confusion and it is possible that no one will be selected for the ‘Big Drop.’ Yes, do I see a question, there in the back?”

“I was wondering,” a soft voice spoke. “Excuse me, but you will need to speak up louder, please,” Chips requested.  

“I was wondering,” the voice was louder, “how are we chosen for the ‘Big Drop?’” 

“Well, no one knows exactly for sure,” replied Chips. “There are many theories, some wild and some that seem to make sense. What we know for sure is that when the cling-clang of the spiritual music is played, someone is going to be chosen for the ‘Big Drop.’”  

“That’s a bunch hokey-hockey!” shouted Pretzel. “That’s not some spiritual music. It’s just a bunch of clinging and clanging, that’s all. There is no Vendor that is looking after all of us and this world.” 

Some of the new arrivals gasped at the thought of no great Vendor. Chips knew he had to restore order, or chaos would surely start to reign. “If you will please excuse Pretzel,” requested Chips. “He is one of the very few who do not believe in the Vendor nor in the Great Plan that he has for us. But even Pretzel has to admit that when the music is played, someone always is chosen for the ‘Big Drop.’” 

“Well, everybody’s got to go sometime,” replied Pretzel. “But that doesn’t mean there’s some Great Plan from some Great Vendor. I think if there was a Vendor, then everyone would be taken fairly. Instead, you see some not staying here long, whereas others, like myself, have been here for a long time. A true Vendor would not let that happen.” 

“Everyone here is free to believe however they choose,” said Chips. “Pretzel believes his not being popular is proof that there is no Vendor. I, on the other hand, have a deep conviction, that indeed, there is a Vendor who loves us and is waiting to welcome us home on the other side of the ‘Big Drop.’” 

The rest of his speech was interrupted by a loud sound. “Attention everyone!” shouted Chips. “That is the spiritual music being played! Someone is about to be chosen for the ‘Big Drop.’ Everybody pay attention and look sharp.”  

Cinnamon Roll was praying to himself, “I hope it’s me. I hope it’s me.”  

“Look there! Look at them!” an angered Chips said. “The Peanuts are pushing forward again! You guys quit that!” 

“They do it all the time,” said Ch-Bar.  

Suddenly, the Peanuts started moving forward. In a moment their bar released and two of them fell to the bottom. 

“See, see what they do,” an exasperated Chips said. “Two of them went into the ‘Big Drop’ because they pushed forward. That is just not fair to us who are bigger than they are.”  

“A true Vendor would not let that happen,” chortled Pretzel. 

“Don’t let him and his nasty attitude get to you, Chips,” said a reassuring Ch-Bar. 

Chips looked up at Ch-Bar and started to relax. He could never be angry around her. She was the sweetest thing he had ever known. He just knew she was pure and creamy through and through. 

“Oh, I’m OK,” said Chips.

“I am always amazed whenever someone goes in the ‘Big Drop,’” Ch-Bar said. “Chips, do you ever think about what’s on the other side?”

“Sure. It’s a mystery that will never be truly solved until we get there,” replied Chips. “What do you think?”

“Well, I think it will be wonderful. I believe we’ll no longer have to stand in these long lines, but we’ll be free to do whatever we want,” mused Ch-Bar.

“I think so, too,” Chips said. “All we have to do is keep trusting in the great Vendor. I know he loves his children and will take care of us.”

“Sometimes I get afraid, Chips,” Ch-Bar revealed. “What if, just what if, it’s not a good place that we are going to?”

“I don’t think Vendor would let any harm come to us,” Chips said trying to be reassuring. “After all, we are his children. We are made in his image. Although, I know, the evil Rocker is out there too.”

“Have you ever seen the work of the Rocker?” Ch-Bar asked.

“Only once,” replied Chips. “It was right after I arrived. There was no playing of the spiritual music. There was no warning at all. Suddenly, the whole world started shaking. I mean shaking so hard I could hardly stay standing.”

“What happened?”

“Just when I thought we all were going down the ‘Big Drop,’ Crème Puff lost his grip and fell. I can still hear him screaming. To be taken like that by the Rocker has to be horrible,” said Chips as he bowed to hide any tears that might come.

“That’s terrible,” Ch-Bar said fighting back her own tears. “The Rocker has to be pure evil. If I were people like Pretzel, I would think hard about what I believed. I wouldn’t want to wind up in the hands of Rocker.”

“I know. But I try not to dwell on it,” said Chips. “I try to keep looking forward knowing the great Vendor is watching over me. He will not let harm come to those who truly love him.”

“That’s the way I’m gonna look at things,” Ch-Bar confidently said. “It will be wonderful to be in a place where everybody is equal and no one is mistreated.”

“I know,” echoed Chips. “Even the Pastries will no longer look down on us.”

“They do think they’re worth more than the rest of us, don’t they,” laughed Ch-Bar.

“Yeah, well, we all have to answer to Vendor,” smiled Chips. “He will judge us all.” 

“Man, you two are heavy,” interrupted Cookie.

“Cookie, Cookie, Cookie,” smile Chips. “How are you today?”

“Man I’m as cool as if I was refrigerated,” replied Cookie.

“Cookie, what do think is on the other side of the ‘Big Drop?’” asked Chips.

“Man, I don’t know. I figure we all are gonna find out soon enough,” said Cookie.

“But you do believe in Vendor, don’t you?” inquired Ch-Bar.

“Oh, yeah. I’m kinda like everybody else. I believe in Him, just in case,” replied a thoughtful Cookie.

“Oh, Cookie, you’re so sweet,” laughed Ch-Bar.

“Yeah, I guess I’ve kinda got a soft middle. You know what I mean?” replied Cookie. “Well, I just wanted to connect with you two. If you’ll pardon me, I’ve got this raisin that’s getting me down. I’m gonna have to stretch or something and get it shifted around.”

“Good to see you, Cookie,” smiled Chips. “You take care.”

“Yeah, man. Don’t get any crumbs on you, if you know what I mean,” replied Cookie as he turned his attention to stretching.  

“Excuse me,” interrupted a soft-spoken voice. “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation.”

“Oh, hello Cheese Puff,” replied Chips.

“You’re certainly looking good today, Cheese Puff,” said Ch-Bar.

“Well thank you,” a flattered Cheese Puff said. “You and Chips got me to thinking about some feelings I’ve been having lately.”

“What kind of feelings?” asked Chips.

“Well, sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes, I have the feeling that I’ve been here before,” she said feeling a little embarrassed revealing this secret.

“I get that feeling too,” shared Ch-Bar.

“I see something happen and it’s like, I’ve seen that happen before,” revealed Cheese Puff.

“I’ve met people that I could have sworn I already knew them,” exclaimed Ch-Bar.

“Me too!” declared Cheese Puff. “It certainly is a strange feeling. What if after the ‘Big Drop’ we are sent back here to the world of Vending?”

“What do you think, Chips?” asked Ch-Bar.

“Well, I don’t know,” reflected Chips. “I know that Recycle is the belief of some, but I’ve always believed we were freshly made.”

“You know some believe we come back as someone else,” exclaimed Cheese Puff.

“Oh, I know,” said Ch-Bar. “If you could come back as anybody you wanted, who would that be?”

“I’d come back as Cinnamon Roll,” declared Chips.

“Why”

“Because he’s full of dough,” laughed Chips.

“And he’s so sweet,” joined in Cheese Puff.

“It’d be my luck that instead of coming back as a big old round sweet roll, I’d come back as a peanut,” Chips continued.

“That’d be my luck, too,” agreed Cheese Puff.

“But I do know,” Chips said striking a more serious tone. “Whatever happens, in this world, or on the other side of the ‘Big Drop,’ our great and wise Vendor will always look after his children.”

“Amen,” joined in Ch-Bar and Cheese Puff. 

Once again, the air was filled with the clinging-clanging sound of the spiritual music.

“Oh, I hope it’s me. Please let it be me,” begged Cinnamon Roll.  

Everyone stood perfectly still waiting to see whose bar would release, letting the occupant fall into the Big Drop. Jerky started moving.  

“Bye Jerky,” shouted Chips. “See you on the other side.” Jerky blew everyone a kiss as he fell. He was one of the older ones that finally was being chosen. 

“You know, I’ve been in touch with ones on the other side,” said a confidant Crackers.

“Give me a break,” laughed Chips. “Who would try to reach you?”

“In fact, I feel a presence now,” said Crackers as he strained to hear what was being told to him. “Yes, I’m being shown something sweet. Yes, definitely, something sweet, with brown.”

“I’ve got a brown streak,” Cinnamon Roll enthusiastically replied.

“Oh, for crying out loud,” said Chips in disbelief.

Ignoring Chips, Crackers continued, “They’re trying to identify themselves. Wait a minute. I see strawberry.”

“Ooo, Sugar Wafer had strawberry,” Cinnamon Roll replied barely able to restrain his delight.

“Yes, definitely strawberry, and chocolate, and vanilla,” Crackers said.

“That’s Sugar Wafer!” exclaimed Cinnamon Roll.

“He’s showing me things. He’s, wait a minute, he’s showing me things to verify that it really is him,” replied Crackers. “He’s showing me that he came to this world after you.”

“Uh, no.”

“He came here at the same time you did.”

“Uh, no.”

“He came here before you did.”

“My God! It is Sugar Wafer,” marveled Cinnamon Roll.

Crackers continued, “He’s showing me he went through the ‘Big Drop.’”

“That’s true. That’s true,” Cinnamon Roll said while holding his breath.

“He’s letting me know, just a second here. He’s letting me know he used to call you. . .”

“He called me CR,” interrupted Cinnamon Roll.

“Yes, that’s it. CR,” replied Crackers. “He’s showing me, he wants you to know that he is on the other side. He’s happy and looking forward to the day you can join him.”

Cinnamon Roll started crying. “I miss him so much.” 

“Crackers, you are so full of it I can smell you all the way up here,” said Chips as distastefully as he could.

“What do you mean?”

“You haven’t been in touch with anyone on the other side, and you know it,” chastised Chips.

“Oh, yeah, everybody’s got to believe like you do,” shot back Crackers. “Mr. Chips, your way is not the only way.”

“But my way is the right way,” exclaimed Chips.

“Why don’t I just come up there and show you where you can put your way?” challenged Crackers.

“Yeah, you do that! Come up here and I’ll knock the peanut butter right out of you,” Chips said rising to the challenge.

“Come on boys,” interrupted Ch-Bar. “Can’t you two ever get along?”

“Well, he started it.”

“I did not!”

“Please be kind to each other. Will you do it for me?” smiled Ch-Bar.

“I’ll try if he will,” smirked Crackers.

“I’ll do it for you, Ch-Bar,” a love-smitten Chips replied. “I do have an idea though. Some time ago, Jerky and I gave each other a secret code that no one else knows. Whichever one of us went down the ‘Big Drop’ first would try their best to reach the other one. So, Crackers, if you can reach Jerky and get him to tell you the secret code, I’ll believe that you are real.”

“Well, I’ve never tried that before,” said Crackers, trying to think it over.

“I didn’t think so,” laughed Chips. He saw Ch-Bar frowning at him, so he said quietly, “I’m sorry.”

“I’m willing to give it a try,” decided Crackers. “I’ll need everybody’s help.”

“What do we need to do?” asked Ch-Bar.

“I’ll need everybody to concentrate with me and follow my instructions,” declared Crackers.

“Oh, I want to help,” shouted Cinnamon Roll. “This is so exciting.”

“OK everybody. Let’s do whatever Crackers needs us to do,” said Ch-Bar while making a knowing glance at Chips. 

“All right,” exclaimed Crackers. “I need everybody to clear their minds.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” smirked Chips. He saw Ch-Bar sternly looking at him. He mouthed, “Sorry.”

“Now everybody concentrate and repeat after me,” said Crackers. “Hmmmm, hmmmmm, oh Great Spirit of the ‘Big Drop’ speak to us.”

Everyone joined in the chanting trying to call up the Great Spirit.

“Come to us Great Spirit,” said Crackers as he fell into a trance. Suddenly, his voice changed to one that sounded like it was coming from the other side.

“Who is calling me?” asked Crackers in the Great Spirit’s voice.

No one spoke for a moment. Then Cinnamon Roll could no longer control himself, “It is I, your humble servant, Cinnamon Roll.”

“What is it you are wanting?”

Cinnamon Roll swallowed hard and said, “We are trying to reach a spirit by the name of Jerky.”

“He is here with me.”

“OK, it’s up to you, Chips,” whispered Cinnamon Roll.

“Huh, do I have to do this?” objected Chips. “Yes,” commanded Ch-Bar.

“Well, if I have to,” sighed Chips. “Jerky, old buddy, this is Chips. How you doing?”

“I am doing well.”

“You don’t sound like Jerky,” smirked Chips.

“Things are different here. You will know that one day.”

“Yeah, I guess,” said Chips as he looked around to see who believed this. “Listen, Jerky buddy, when you were here we gave each other a secret code that we would only share when one went to the other side.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“So, what’s the code?” asked Chips.

Everyone leaned forward to hear what the spirit Jerky would say. After a few moments Crackers started swaying back and forth.

“Enriched flour.”

“I told you, Crackers, you’re a fake,” exclaimed Chips.

“I am not,” said Crackers, coming out of his trance. “You wouldn’t tell us what the secret code is just so it would look like I failed!”

“Bite me,” replied Chips.

“You see, Ch-Bar. He’s not honest. All he can do is insult and ridicule me in front of everybody,” said Crackers coming almost to tears.

“No, you idiot,” shot back Chips. “The code Jerky gave me was ‘Bite Me.’”

“Oh.”  

Suddenly, the sound of the spiritual music caught everyone’s attention. Everyone stood quietly waiting to see who would be chosen. Ch-Bar started moving. She looked at Chips.  

“Here I go.”

“Save me a place on the other side,” Chips shouted as Ch-Bar fell into the “Big Drop.” Chips smiled with contentment. With friends like Jerky and Ch-Bar waiting on the other side for him, he knew he was going to a better place. 

Chips could feel the familiar gentle moving of his world. It was starting all over again. 

“Here come the new recruits!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Chapter Two 

After The “Big Drop”

After putting the money into the machine, the man turned to the woman. 

“Now, let me guess, what you would like,” teased the man. “Could it possibly be a chocolate bar?”

“How did you know?” smiled the woman.

“It was too easy with a chocoholic like you,” he replied as he pushed the buttons for his selection. “There’s your bar.”

“Thank you. You treat me so wonderful,” teased the woman.

“Well, there’s nothing too good for my woman,” laughed the man. “How is it?”

“Mmmm, it’s divine,” said the woman while closing her eyes. “I feel like I’m in heaven.” 

THE END

Copyright ©2003 by Jerry W. Crews